GREY, Joel 1932–

PERSONAL

Original name, Joel Katz; born April 11, 1932, in Cleveland, OH; son of Mickey (a comedian, actor, and director) and Grace Katz; married Jo Wilder (an actress), June 29, 1958 (divorced, 1982); children: Jennifer (an actress), James. Education: Trained for the stage at the Cleveland Playhouse, Cleveland, OH, and the Neighborhood Playhouse, New York City.

Addresses: Agent— Nevin Dolcefino, Innovative Artists, 1505 10th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401.

Career: Actor, dancer, and singer. As a child, worked as a dancer and singer in acts with his father; performer at Chez Paris, Chicago, IL, c. 1950. Cabaret performer at such venues as Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CA, Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, Caribe Hilton, San Juan, PR, and the Empire Room, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York City, early 1970s; concert performer, including appearances at the Music Hall, Cleveland, OH, 1973, and later appeared frequently at special benefit performances and concerts. American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge, MA, member of resident company, 1991–92. Photographer, with work exhibited at Staley Wise Gallery, New York City.

Awards, Honors: Antoinette Perry Award and New York Critics Circle Poll Award, both best supporting or featured actor in a musical, 1967, for Cabaret; Antoinette Perry Award nomination, best actor in a musical, and Outer Critics Circle Award, outstanding performance, both 1969, for George M!; National Board of Review Award, 1972, Academy Award, best supporting actor, Golden Globe Award, best supporting actor in a motion picture, and Film Award, outstanding newcomer to film, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, all 1973, all for Cabaret; honorary Litt.D., Cleveland State University, 1974; Antoinette Perry Award nominations, best actor in a musical, 1975, for Goodtime Charley, and 1979, for The Grand Tour; Grammy Award nomination, best opera recording (with others), National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, 1980, for Silverlake; received star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1985; Golden Globe Award nomination, best supporting actor in a motion picture, 1986, for Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding guest actor in a comedy series, 1993, for "The Last Immigrant," Brooklyn Bridge; Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award, both outstanding featured actor in a musical, 1997, for Chicago; Drama Desk Award nomination, best featured actor in a play, 2000, for Give Me Your Answer, Do!

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

Pud, On Borrowed Time, Cleveland Playhouse, Cleveland, OH, 1941.

Borscht Capades (revue), 1948, then Royale Theatre, New York City, 1951.

The Littlest Revue, Phoenix Repertory Theatre, New York City, 1956.

Buddy Baker, Come Blow Your Horn, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City, 1961.

Littlechap, Stop the World—I Want to Get Off, Ambassador Theatre, New York City, 1963–1964.

Arthur Kipps, Half a Sixpence (musical), Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1965.

Harry, Noon and Night, American Place Theatre, New York City, 1965.

Master of ceremonies, Cabaret (musical), Broadhurst Theatre, 1966–1967.

George M. Cohan (title role), George M! (musical), Palace Theatre, New York City, 1969, then Curran Theatre, San Francisco, CA, 1969.

1776, Theatre at Maddox Hall, Atlanta, GA, 1972.

Charley, Goodtime Charley (musical), Palace Theatre, 1975.

The Joel Grey Show, Nanuet, NY, 1975.

Stony McBride, Marco Polo Sings a Solo, New York Shakespeare Festival, Estelle R. Newman Theatre, Public Theatre, New York City, 1977.

Title role, Platonov, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA, 1977.

S. L. Jacobowsky, The Grand Tour (musical), Palace Theatre, 1979.

Olim, Silverlake, New York City Opera, New York City, 1980.

Night of 100 Stars, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1982.

Pal Joey, 1983.

Ned Weeks, The Normal Heart, New York Shakespeare Festival, LuEsther Hall, Public Theatre, New York City, 1985.

Master of ceremonies, Cabaret (musical), Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1987–1988, then Minskoff Theatre, New York City, 1988.

Pal Joey, 1988–1989.

Night of 100 Stars III, Radio City Music Hall, 1990.

When We Dead Awaken, American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge, MA, 1991.

Title role, Herringbone, Hartford Stage Company, Hartford, CT, 1992–1993.

Master of ceremonies, Cabaret (musical), Broadway production, c. 1995, then London, 1998.

Amos Hart, Chicago (musical), City Center Theatre, New York City, then Richard Rodgers Theatre, New York City, 1996.

Jack Donovan, Give Me Your Answer, Do!, Roundabout Theatre Company, Gramercy Theatre, New York City, 1999–2000.

The wizard, Wicked, Gershwin Theatre, New York City, 2003.

Appeared in A Fool and Her Fortune, New York Stage and Film Theatre, New York City; also appeared in productions of Finian's Rainbow (musical), Greenwich Village Follies, Joy Ride, Mardi Gras, Tom Sawyer, and West Side Story (musical).

Major Tours:

Come Blow Your Horn, U.S. cities, 1961.

Littlechap, Stop the World—I Want to Get Off, U.S. cities, 1963–1964.

Half a Sixpence, U.S. cities, 1965.

Harry, Noon and Night, U.S. cities, 1965.

George M! (musical), U.S. cities, 1969.

Variety Revue, U.S. cities, 1974.

Marco Polo Sings a Solo, U.S. cities, 1977.

Master of ceremonies, Cabaret (musical), U.S. cities, 1987.

Toured U.S. cities in a solo show, 2000.

Film Appearances:

Bender, About Face, Warner Bros., 1952.

Alex Nash, Calypso Heat Wave, Columbia, 1957.

Beagle, Come September, Universal, 1961.

Master of ceremonies, Cabaret (musical; also known as Cabaret: Goodbye Berlin ), Allied Artists, 1972.

Franklin Wills, Man on a Swing, Paramount, 1974.

Nate Salisbury, Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (also known as Buffalo Bill and the Indians ), United Artists, 1976.

Lowenstein, The Seven Per Cent Solution, Universal, 1976.

Chiun, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (also known as Remo: Unarmed and Dangerous ), Orion, 1985.

Burgel, Kafka, Renn Productions, 1991.

Himself, The Player, Fine Line, 1992.

Willy Stone, The Music of Chance, IRS Releasing, 1993.

Jimmie, Venus Rising, IRS Releasing, 1995.

Josef Goebbels, The Empty Mirror, Lions Gate Films, 1996.

Simon, My Friend Joe (also known as Mein Freund Joe ), Gemini Films, 1996.

Oldrich Novy, Dancer in the Dark (musical), Fine Line, 2000.

Amos Babcock Bellamy, The Fantasticks (musical), United Artists, 2000.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Offline Releasing, 2001.

Himself, The Making and Meaning of "We Are Family " (documentary; also known as We Are Family ), 2002.

Television Appearances; Series:

Host, Paddington Bear, 1981.

Lemuel Idzik, Oz, HBO, 2003.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Aaron Diamond, Queenie, ABC, 1987.

Guido, Further Tales of the City (also known as Armistead Maupin's Further Tales of the City ), Showtime, 2001.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Theodore "Laurie" Laurence, Little Women, NBC, 1958.

Johnny Hyde, Marilyn and Me, ABC, 1991.

Flea, The Dangerous, HBO, 1995.

The ghost of Christmas past, A Christmas Carol, TNT, 1999.

Dr. Mensley, "Reaching Normal," On the Edge, Showtime, 2001.

Columbo: The Man Who Murdered Himself, 2002.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Jack, Jack and the Beanstalk, ABC, 1970.

George M. Cohan (title role), George M!, NBC, 1970.

The Magical Music of Burt Bacharach, syndicated, 1972.

Voice of Joshua Trundle (the narrator), 'Twas the Night before Christmas, 1974.

Jubilee! (also known as The Bell Telephone Jubilee ), NBC, 1976.

Merry Christmas ... with Love, Julie, syndicated, 1979.

Night of 100 Stars, ABC, 1982.

Jack Point, The Yeomen of the Guard (also known as The Merryman and His Maid ), 1984.

The Kraft All–Star Salute to Ford's Theatre, CBS, 1986.

Host, Christmas at Radio City Music Hall, HBO, 1986.

Liberty Weekend, ABC, 1986.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 1987.

The 1990 King Orange Jamboree Parade, NBC, 1990.

Night of 100 Stars III, NBC, 1990.

A Capitol Fourth, PBS, 1991.

Street Scenes: New York on Film, AMC, 1992.

In a New Light, ABC, 1992.

Michael, Just Deserts, ABC, 1992.

Host, A Capitol Fourth, PBS, 1994.

The Wizard of Oz (narrator), The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True (also known as The Wizard of Oz in Concert ), TNT, 1995.

The 53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala: An American Journey, CBS, 1997.

The Music of Kander and Ebb: Razzle Dazzle, PBS, 1997.

Presenter, Broadway '97: Launching the Tonys, PBS, 1997.

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1998.

Interviewee, NYTV: By the People Who Made It, PBS, 1998.

Interviewee, Julie Newmar: The Cat's Meow, Arts and Entertainment, 2000.

Interviewee, Burt Bacharach, Arts and Entertainment, 2001.

Liza Minnelli: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

Broadway's Lost Treasures, PBS, 2003.

Host of Live from Wolf Trap, PBS.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

The Colgate Comedy Hour, NBC, 1950.

"Forty Weeks of Uncle Tom," Kraft Television Theatre, 1954.

"Jack and the Beanstalk," Producers Showcase, NBC, 1956.

"Vallee's Protege," December Bride, 1957.

Billy the Kid, "Full House," Maverick, ABC, 1959.

Runt Bowles, "The Masquerade," Bronco, ABC, 1960.

Owny O'Reilly, "The Salvation of Owny O'Reilly," Lawman, 1960.

Owny O'Reilly, "The Return of Owny O'Reilly," Lawman, 1960.

Willy, "The Clown," Surfside 6, 1960.

Joey Kellogg, "Open and Close in One," 77 Sunset Strip, 1961.

Owny O'Reilly, "Owny O'Reilly, Esq.," Lawman, 1961.

Herbie, "Nanette's Teenage Suitor," The Nanette Fabray Show, 1961.

Guest panelist, What's My Line?, syndicated, 1967.

Guest, The Ed Sullivan Show, 1967, 1968.

Mystery guest, What's My Line?, syndicated, 1968.

Guest, Kraft Music Hall, 1969, 1970.

Andrew MacBane, "There Aren't Any More McBanes," Night Gallery (also known as Rod Serling's Night Gallery ), NBC, 1972.

Guest, The Julie Andrews Hour, ABC, 1972.

Guest, The Carol Burnett Show, CBS, 1972, 1974.

Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, 1974, 1978.

Guest, Front Page Challenge, 1975.

Himself, The Muppet Show, syndicated, 1976.

Evening at Pops, PBS, 1979.

Himself, "Joel Grey Saves the Day," Alice, CBS, 1982.

Himself, "Alice at the Palace," Alice, CBS, 1982.

Tommy DeLuca, "The Critic," Matlock, NBC, 1991.

Adam the Devil, "The Conundrum," Dallas, CBS, 1991.

Jacob Prossman, "The Last Immigrant," Brooklyn Bridge, CBS, 1992.

Jacob Prossman, "In a Family Way," Brooklyn Bridge, CBS, 1993.

Caylem, "Resistance," Star Trek: Voyager, UPN, 1995.

Himself, "Twins," It's Like, You Know..., ABC, 1999.

Dr. Neil Stewart, "Essence of Life," The Outer Limits, Showtime and syndicated, 1999.

Gideon, "Simon Says," The Outer Limits, Showtime and syndicated, 2000.

Ronald, "The Lord Moves in Mysterious Ways," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 2001.

Ronald, "Band of Angels," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 2001.

Doc, "Forever," Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The WB, 2001.

Doc, "The Weight of the World," Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The WB, 2001.

Doc, "The Gift," Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The WB, 2001.

Milton Winters, Sr., "Cuba Libre," Law & Order: Criminal Intent, NBC, 2003.

Gunman, "Sonata de Oz," Oz, HBO, 2003.

Also appeared in The Engelbert Humperdinck Show, ABC; Ironside, NBC; and This Is Tom Jones, ABC.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

Presenter, The 44th Annual Academy Awards, NBC, 1972.

The 45th Annual Academy Awards, NBC, 1973.

The 42nd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1988.

The 45th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1991.

Danny Kaye's International Children's Awards for UNICEF, The Disney Channel, 1992.

The 70th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1998.

The 75th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2003.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Big Joe Brown, Man on a String, ABC, 1972.

Guest, Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, CBS, 1973.

111 Gramercy Park, ABC, 2003.

RECORDINGS

Audio Books:

Narrator (with others), The Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, New Millennium Audio, 2002.

Narrator (with others), The Poetry of Robert Frost, New Millennium Audio, 2002.

Narrator (with others), The Poetry of Walt Whitman, New Millennium Audio, 2002.

Albums:

Silverlake (cast recording), c. 1980.

Chicago: The Musical (cast recording), 1997.

Videos:

Choreography: Creating Vincent Paterson's Dance Sequences, New Line Home Video, 2000.

Interviewee, Let Freedom Sing? The Story of "Yankee Doodle Dandy, " Warner Home Video, 2003.

WRITINGS

Film Music:

Composer, About Face, Warner Bros., 1952.

Other:

Author of a book, Pictures I Had to Take, PowerHouse Books.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

New York Post, November 12, 1996.

Variety, September 29, 1997, p. S57.