Career: Determined to become a serious actor, Grammer spent two years at New York's Juilliard School. He then worked in theatre before making his TV debut in 1983 miniseries Kennedy. He had a stint in soap Another World, and in 1984 began playing Dr Frasier Crane in Cheers. After Cheers ended in 1993, he launched the hugely popular spin-off series Frasier. In addition to starring in 264 editions of the sitcom, he directed more than 30 episodes. Grammer has also starred in X-Men: The Last Stand, short-lived sitcoms Back to You and Hank, and the dramas Boss and Partners. He is also the voice of Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons.

Career: After moving to Los Angeles, Leeves appeared in a series called Throb and made guest appearances in a number of shows, including Seinfeld and the miniseries Pandora's Clock. Her big break came in 1993 when she was cast as Daphne Moon in Cheers spin-off Frasier. Leeves has starred on Broadway as Sally Bowles in Cabaret and played parts in a variety of films, including Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983), To Live and Die in LA (1985), Miracle on 34th Street (1994) and Music of the Heart (1999). Since 2010, she has starred in the sitcom Hot in Cleveland.

Career: David worked steadily on the stage throughout the 1980s and made his film debut in Bright Lights, Big City in 1988. He was later offered a role in Little Man Tate by former Yale classmate Jodie Foster, who remembered him from a student play. In 1992, he was in short-lived sitcom The Powers That Be and caught the eye of Frasier's creators, who noticed his resemblance to Kelsey Grammer and wrote the role of Niles especially for him. His performance in the long-running sitcom earned him four Emmy awards and a reported salary of $1million per episode for the last few seasons. Frasier came to an end in 2003 and David has since been seen in the film Down With Love and in various stage productions on Broadway and the West End. He won a Tony Award in 2007 for his performance in Kander and Ebb musical Curtains.

Career: In the US, Gilpin struggled to get decent roles, so worked as a make-up artist and radio producer. Later, she became an apprentice at the acclaimed Williamstown Theatre Festival, and had small parts in TV shows Cheers, Matlock, 21 Jump Street and Wings. Actress Blythe Danner liked her work and helped her gain roles, although the Frasier job only came about when original choice Lisa Kudrow (of Friends) dropped out. Gilpin's other projects include How to Kill Your Neighbour's Dog and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. She also runs production company Bristol Cities with former Frasier co-star Jane Leeves. Since Frasier ended in 2004, Gilpin has appeared in Medium, Desperate Housewives, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Make It or Break It, and Hot in Cleveland.

Career: Despite moving back to LA in 1985, Mullally's efforts to hit the big time came to nothing. Instead, she made ends meet appearing in small roles in such films as About Last Night and Risky Business, and TV series Murder, She Wrote and China Beach. Regular parts in The Ellen Burstyn Show and My Life and Times also failed to make her a star. In 1994 she appeared in an acclaimed stage version of Grease. From then, Mullally began getting better roles and, in 1998, became a household name thanks to Will & Grace. After Will & Grace ended in 2006, she hosted a short-lived talk show. Since then, she has popped up in various shows, including 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, and Childrens Hospital. Away from acting, she is the member of the band Supreme Music Program.