Arka Evren

ACTOR

Joel Grey

Known for
Cabaret (1972), Kafka (1991), The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976)

18 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026

Joel Grey is an actor best known for Cabaret, Kafka and The Seven-Per-Cent Solution.

  1. #001

    Joel Grey is one of 10 actors who have won both a Tony and an Oscar for playing the same role on stage and on screen (Cabaret (1972)). The others are Yul Brynner (The King and I (1956)), Shirley Booth (Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)), Rex Harrison (My Fair Lady (1964)), Anne Bancroft (The Miracle Worker (1962)), Paul Scofield (A Man for All Seasons (1966)), Jack Albertson (The Subject Was Roses (1968)), José Ferrer (Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)) and Viola Davis (Fences (2016)).

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

  2. #002

    Joel Grey is a serious photographer who has published four books of his work, the most recent in 2013. He says he was inspired by the work of Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist and Joseph Cornell.

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  3. #003

    Joel Grey is Clark Gregg's former father-in-law.

    LIFE & FAMILY · SOURCED

  4. #004

    Joel Grey is sometimes confused with actor Ron Rifkin, and vice versa. For this reason, Grey played a brainwashed man who believed he was the villainous terrorist spy Arvin Sloane, the character played by Rifkin in Alias (2001).

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

  5. #005

    Joel Grey first appeared on stage at the age of 10.

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  6. #006

    Joel Grey was the first Mystery Guest on the revival of What's My Line? (1968).

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  7. #007

    Joel Grey was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 6753 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

  8. #008

    Joel Grey is still playing the role of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the Broadway musical "Wicked."

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

  9. #009

    In January 2015, Joel Grey announced that he is gay. The announcement was made in People magazine.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

  10. #010

    Joel Grey is the father of Jennifer Grey and the adoptive father of James Katz, a chef, from his former marriage to Jo Wilder. He is the grandfather of Stella Gregg.

    LIFE & FAMILY · SOURCED

  11. #011

    Joel Grey was born in New York, NY, USA, and starred in the musical "Anything Goes" on Broadway.

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

  12. #012

    Joel Grey won Broadway's 1967 Tony Award for Best Featured or Supporting Actor in a Musical for originating the role of the Emcee in "Cabaret"; he recreated the role in an Oscar-winning performance in the film version, Cabaret (1972). He also earned three Tony nominations for Best Actor in a Musical: in 1969 for the title role of George M. Cohan in "George M!," in 1975 for "Goodtime Charley," and in 1979 for "The Grand Tour."

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

  13. #013

    Joel Grey is the eighth of 10 performers to win both a Tony Award and an Oscar for the same role, winning for "Cabaret" (Tony in 1967, Oscar in 1973). Chronologically, the others are Jose Ferrer, Shirley Booth, Yul Brynner, Rex Harrison, Anne Bancroft, Paul Scofield, Jack Albertson and Viola Davis. All nine won the Tony first and then the Oscar. The 10th, Lila Kedrova, won the Oscar first (1964) for "Zorba, the Greek" and then the Tony (1984).

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

  14. #014

    When Joel Grey hosted The Muppet Show (1976), he sang "Razzle-Dazzle" from the musical "Chicago." His daughter, Jennifer Grey, appeared in Dirty Dancing (1987) alongside Jerry Orbach, who played Billy Flynn in "Chicago" and sang the same song.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

  15. #015

    Joel Grey made his film debut in About Face (1952).

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  16. #016

    Joel Grey is mentioned in the Mercury Rev song "Lincoln's Eyes."

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  17. #017

    Joel Grey resided at the Hotel Des Artistes at 1 West 67th Street in Manhattan, New York.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

  18. #018

    Joel Grey appeared in two unrelated films with similar titles: Man on a String (1972) and Man on a Swing (1974).

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

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