At 92, Joel Grey is a living legend whose success dates back to 1966: he originated the iconic role of The Emcee, aka the Master of Ceremonies, in Cabaret, for which he also won a Tony. Keep in mind it’s a role everyone from Neil Patrick Harris and Alan Cumming to Eddie Redmayne and, currently, Adam Lambert have tried their hand at. Better yet, Joel kept the momentum going, winning an Oscar for the same role in the 1972 film adaption.
On stage, he’s also starred in numerous acclaimed productions, including the 1996 revival of Chicago, the same version of the show still on Broadway today. He’s scored five Tony nominations over his career, including one for directing the 2011 revival of the play The Normal Heart. And, just last year, the Tonys honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Oh, and in case you didn’t know, his daughter is none other than Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey.
