Several months before actors start being announced announced to join Kelsey Grammer in the Frasier revival’s cast, the man who’s brought Dr. Frasier Crane to life since 1984 shared with the world that David Hyde Pierce would not reprise Niles Crane in the new show. At the time, Grammer said this was because his former co-star “wasn’t really interested in repeating the performance.” Now shortly after the new Frasier wrapped up its first season to Paramount+ subscribers, Pierce has elaborated on why he declined to revisit Niles, which started off with him saying he “never really wanted to go back.”
Like Grammer, the late John Mahoney, Peri Gilpin and Jane Leeves, Pierce was part of the original Frasier for the entirety of its 11-year run, with Niles serving as an amusing foil to his older brother, yet also sharing many of the same personality traits and interests. 2024 will mark 20 years since Pierce last played Niles, and while chatting with The Los Angeles Times about his new play Here We Are, the actor discussed the various factors that resulted in him not taking part in the revival, saying:
