Kelsey Grammer, the actor best known for his role as Frasier Crane, is weighing a move from the soundstage to the campaign trail. In an interview with Us Weekly, the 71-year-old said he feels a lingering sense of duty to his country — one he believes political office could fulfill.
“It would possibly tick that box for me, in terms of the service I feel I should have given to my fellow man — to my fellow countrymen — that I missed in the military,” Grammer told the outlet. “Maybe that would be the way to do it. I have wrestled with it.”
Grammer, who met with former President Donald Trump on Thursday, has been quietly signaling political ambitions for months. His comments suggest he sees elected office as a way to square a personal ledger left unbalanced by his lack of military service.
“I’m vital and prepared to stay that way for quite a while, and yes, it’s likely I will at least throw my hat in the ring in some way,” he said.
The actor, who also starred in “Cheers” and the revival of “Frasier,” added that he may hold off until his youngest children are older before launching a campaign. But he made clear that his age — 71 — does not deter him.
Grammer is not the first celebrity to flirt with a political career, but his timing is notable. The midterm cycle is heating up, and Trump remains a dominant force in Republican politics. Grammer’s meeting with Trump — amid ongoing policy battles over housing and other issues — suggests he is at least testing the waters of the GOP’s Trump-aligned wing.
If Grammer runs, he would join a growing list of entertainers-turned-candidates. But his path may not be smooth. Progressive upsets in recent primaries show that the political landscape is shifting, and even well-known names face tough races.
For now, Grammer says he is wrestling with the decision. But his language — “it’s likely I will at least throw my hat in the ring” — suggests a man who is already leaning toward yes.
