Who Is Joel Grey? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Joel Grey, born on April 11, 1932, celebrated his 93rd birthday in 2025. An esteemed American actor, singer, dancer, director, and photographer, Grey has captivated audiences worldwide for decades. Best known for his iconic role in the Broadway musical "Cabaret," Grey's versatile talents have earned him numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and a Golden Globe. Beyond his professional achievements, Joel has led a fascinating life filled with artistic exploration and personal growth.
| Occupation | Photographers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 11, 1932 |
| Age | 93 Years |
| Birth Place | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Joel Grey's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As of 2025, Joel Grey stands at approximately 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) tall. His weight has varied throughout his career, but he is known to maintain a slender frame, indicative of his background in dance. Regular physical activity and a keen interest in health contribute to his overall vitality at an age when most are retired.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Throughout his life, Joel Grey has been open about his personal experiences. He was previously married to actress Jo Wilder from 1958 to 1982, with whom he shares two children, including actress Jennifer Grey, who gained fame from her role in "Dirty Dancing." Following his divorce, Grey came out as a gay man, revealing this facet of his identity in a later stage of his life. As of 2025, Joel is believed to be in a committed relationship, although details about his boyfriend are kept private to maintain a level of personal discretion.
He narrated the animated film Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992), and made a cameo appearance as himself in the Robert Altman film The Player (1992). The following year he starred in the Philip Haas drama film The Music of Chance (1993) alongside James Spader, Mandy Patinkin, M. Emmet Walsh, and Charles Durning.
The film premiered at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.
Later that year he starred in New York Stage and Film's production of John Patrick Shanley's A Fool and Her Fortune and received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series at the 45th Primetime Emmy Awards for his recurring role as Jacob Prossman on the television series Brooklyn Bridge.
In 1995, he made a guest appearance on the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Resistance" as Caylem, an aging rebel seeking to free his (deceased) wife from prison.
In November 1995, he performed as the Wizard of Oz in The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True, a staged concert of the popular story at Lincoln Center to benefit the Children's Defense Fund. The performance was originally broadcast on Turner Network Television (TNT) in November 1995, and released on CD and video in 1996.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Joel Grey's estimated net worth is around $10 million. His wealth stems not only from his successful acting career on stage and screen but also from his directorial projects and ventures in photography. Grey continues to earn through various appearances, both in theater and in television projects, augmenting his long-established income streams.
Career, Business and Investments
Joel Grey's career spans over seven decades, with highlights including his unforgettable performance in "Cabaret," both on Broadway and in the film adaptation. Beyond acting, he has ventured into directing and has also authored a memoir that gives an introspective view of his life in the arts. His investments include real estate holdings and a keen interest in the arts, exemplified by his involvement in various theater productions. Grey remains active, continually seeking new opportunities to express his creativity.
Grey started his career, at age 10, in the Cleveland Play House's Curtain Pullers children's theatre program in the early 1940s, appearing in productions such as Grandmother Slyboots, Jack of Tarts and a lead role in their mainstage production of On Borrowed Time.
By 1952, at age 20, he was appearing as a featured performer at the Copacabana nightclub in New York. He changed his last name from Katz to Grey early in his career due to the stigma associated with having a surname with an obvious ethnicity attached. Grey made his Broadway acting debut in Borscht Capades where he was credited as "Joel Kaye".
He returned to Broadway in The Littlest Revue in 1956 and acted as a replacement in Neil Simon's Come Blow Your Horn in 1961 and the musicals Stop the World – I Want to Get Off in 1962, and Half a Sixpence in 1965.
Social Network
Joel Grey is less active on social media compared to many modern celebrities, valuing his privacy. However, he occasionally shares insights on platforms like Instagram, where he connects with fans and promotes his projects. His legacy and influence in the arts are substantial, earning him a loyal following across generations.
He also played Master of Sinanju Chiun, Remo Williams (Fred Ward)'s elderly Korean martial arts master in the movie Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985), a role that garnered him a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 13th Saturn Awards and a second Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Pict
ure at the 43rd Golden Globe Awards.
Grey's character Chiun was popular for the lines "Meat of cow kills", and "You move like a pregnant yak", from the movie. He then acted in Steven Soderbergh's mystery thriller Kafka (1991), starring Jeremy Irons, Theresa Russell and Ian Holm.
In 1991, he played Adam, a devil, in "Conundrum", a two-part season 14 episode and the series finale of the television series Dallas (1991). That same year, Grey also appeared in the American Repertory Theater's production of When We Dead Awaken at the São Paulo Biennial.
Education
Joel Grey was educated at the prestigious Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where he honed his skills in performance. His early training in dance and theater laid the groundwork for a prolific career that would see him perform in some of the most iconic roles in stage and film history.
Joel Grey (born Joel David Katz; April 11, 1932) is an American actor, singer, dancer, photographer, and theatre director. He is best known for portraying the Master of Ceremonies in the musical Cabaret on Broadway and in Bob Fosse's 1972 film adaptation.
He has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award for his performances in the Cabaret stage musical and film. He earned the Lifetime Achievement Tony Award at the 76th Tony Awards in 2023.
