David Hyde Pierce was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA, to George and Laura Pierce, who have since passed away. He is the youngest of four children, with two older sisters, Barbara and Nancy, and an older brother, Thomas. As a child, David developed a strong interest in music, particularly piano, and would often play the organ at his local church, Bethesda Episcopal Church.
As he grew older, David discovered a passion for drama in high school, and upon graduating in 1977, he received the Yaddo Medal, an award that honors academic achievement and personal character. Despite his love for music, David decided to pursue a degree in classical piano at Yale University.
However, he soon found himself disenchanted with music history lessons and struggled to dedicate the necessary time to practice and become a successful concert pianist. Instead, he returned to his love of drama and graduated in 1981 with a double major in English and Theatre Arts.
After college, David moved to New York City, where he worked a series of menial jobs, including selling ties at Bloomingdale's and working as a security guard, while also pursuing his acting career in the theater during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He appeared in small roles in films such as Bright Lights, Big City (1988) before landing his breakout role as "Dr. Niles Crane" in the television series Frasier (1993).
Throughout the show's eleven-year run, David was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series every year, ultimately winning four times: 1995, 1998-1999, and 2004. David currently resides in Los Angeles with his romantic partner, Brian Hargrove, and their two Wheaton Terriers, Maude and Mabel. He remains close with his three siblings.
