Although his character’s name didn’t appear in the show’s title, David Hyde Pierce was always the real star of Frasier and it never seemed right that while the cast of Friends were given endless movie starring vehicles he was mostly relegated to voice-over work outside the long-running sitcom.
This is a real shame because, his brilliant comic timing and physicality aside, he’s also a very good character actor. Finally he gets star billing in weekend opener The Perfect Host, a twisty-turny psychological thriller where nothing is what it seems.
Hyde Pierce plays an uptight host whose perfect Hollywood Hills dinner party is threatened by a bank-robber-on-the-run, played by Clayne Crawford, who cons his way into the home of Pierce’s character, Warwick Wilson. After Warwick spots his uninvited guest on a TV news report he becomes a hostage in his own home, but nothing is going to get in the way of his perfectly planned evening…
The Perfect Host is also notable for having an openly gay actor headlining a punchy thriller instead of just playing GBFF or messing around with smurfs – outside of Jodie Foster, who’s cornered the market in looking worried, when was the last time that happened?
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Michael Strangeways
Not quite a fair comparison…the cast of Friends was considerably younger than the cast of Frasier while the excellent Mr. Hyde Pierce was never exactly a candidate for leading man roles…he’s a character actor.
scott ny'er
@Michael Strangeways: Agreed. Also, I believe the audience for both sitcoms were different. Friends attracted a younger, hippier, wants stupid jokes crowd, while Frasier was more intellectual, witty humour. Friends cast were all attractive young peeps, Frasier were much older and not so attractive. It’s not an apples to apples comparison. And the Friends cast didn’t get endless movie roles. The only ones who really made it were Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston. Courtney got Scream, which hit blockbuster status, so there is some evidence to give her more movie roles. Jennifer is still a question as to why she gets roles.
Anyway
Fair enough on most points, Queerty. But this isn’t exactly Hollywood blockbuster stuff. Hopefully it merely outperforms it’s meager origins. DHP looks ideal for this role. Thanks for posting about it.
Ted B. (Charging Rhino)
Hahahahahah…
In the soul of every opera queen in the beating heart of an axe-murderer.
Very true, just cross them at your own peril.
fredo777
@Anyway: Curb your enthusiasm.
christopher di spirito
I thought David Hyde Pierce does a lot of stage work on Broadway in New York?
Ruddigore
@christopher di spirito: David Hyde Pierce was in Spamalot on Broadway and was the lead in Curtains, for which he won a Tony.
Ron
David is a character actor at best, especially since he is officially out. Those are the rules, sad but true. Better if actors both gay and straight keep their private lives private.
j
@Ron: How defeatist.
@fredo777: Lol
Kramer
He was never “relegated” to anything after Frasier – His eleven years on the show gave him the financial security to pick and choose his future projects. He returned to the theatre, where he since has won much acclaim, including a Tony award. Also, if you write an article about someone, at least get their name right – his surname name is Pierce, Hyde is his middle name. Oh, and he’s outstanding in The Perfect Host – don’t miss it!
Ellemar
This looks like an interesting movie
Xtincta
In what way was David Hyde Pierce the “real” Star of Fraiser? @scott ny’er: Friends was just as well written a sitcom as Fraiser, in fact Fraiser had a lot of familiar TV sitcom tropes and cliches.
Ted C.
@Ron: When has a straight actor ever had to keep their sexuality private?