Kelsey Grammer became emotional while discussing his faith as he promoted his upcoming flick about a pastor who invited hippies into his congregation.
Grammer, 68, is most widely known for his role as psychiatrist Dr. Frasier on NBC sitcom Cheers and its spin-off Frasier, as well as for voicing Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons since the show began in 1990.
Now, he's set to star in Jesus Revolution - focused on the true story of Chuck Smith, a progressive American pastor who wanted to reinvigorate his struggling church by including some Rock n Roll and local hippies in his service.
Grammer had the chance to talk about this on Live With Kelly and Ryan recently.
When discussing his latest project, Grammer said in between tears that it was a "good" and "uplifting" movie and that his wife Kayte Walsh was also moved emotional after viewing it for the first time. "It's really uplifting. It's a good movie [...] My wife and I saw it together. She was just dissolved in tears and said, 'It's the best thing you've ever done.'"
He eventually revealed that he was raised a Christian Scientist but eventually became a Protestant, and has fond memories of Jesus hippies during the 60s and 70s.
In an interview with USA Today, Grammer admitted that his relationship with God has evolved over the years, stating: "I've had hiccups. I've had some tragic times. I have wrestled with those and worked my way through them: sometimes rejecting faith, sometimes rejecting God even, in a period of being pretty angry about it, like, 'Where were you?' That kind of thing."
"But I have come to terms with it and have found great peace in my faith and in Jesus. It's not cavalier - Jesus made a difference in my life. That's not anything I'll apologize for," he added.
Grammer has had a difficult relationship with substance abuse following the brutal rape and murder of his younger sister Karen in 1975. He spoke to Vanity Fair in 2015 about battling with forgiveness when Freddie Glenn (the man who was involved in the murder) was up for parole.
"I accept that you actually live with remorse every day of your life, but I live with tragedy every day of mine," he told Glenn via video during the hearing. "I accept your apology. I forgive you. However, I cannot give your release my endorsement. To give that a blessing would be a betrayal of my sister's life."
"I believe the gift of life and freedom he took from my sister precludes him from ever being allowed to enjoy that gift for himself. He took her future from her with no regard for her whatsoever. He assumed he had a right to do so. He assumed she was his property, and that the precious gift God gave her was his to take," Grammer then told Vanity Fair.
