David Alan Grier

One of America's most popular comic actors, David Alan Grier actually got his start in dramatic roles, featuring in the hit Broadway musical Dreamgirls, along with an award-winning role in Robert Altman's 1983 film -- Grier's first appearance on the big screen -- Streamers and parts in A Soldier's Play and its accompanying film, A Soldier's Story. After nailing his initial, more serious roles, Grier took on comedic roles, appearing in Amazon Women on the Moon and Keenan Ivory Wayans' I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. Wayans would end up casting Grier in his hit comedy sketch show In Living Color, which would in turn make David Alan Grier a household name. After In Living Color went off the air, Grier appeared and starred in a number of films and television shows, including Life with Bonnie, Boomerang, and Blankman. His next move was to work stages as a standup comic, and he wound up scoring big, eventually hosting Comedy Central's standup showcase Premium Blend. While 2008 would see Grier hosting the Comedy Central series Chocolate News, he never really gave up on more dramatic roles, and was in talks to play Louis Farrakhan in a musical called The Nation.