Losing a beloved family member in any capacity is emotionally devastating. But for Frasier star Kelsey Grammer, it’s an entirely different burden to bear.
Nearly 50 years ago, Grammer lost his dear sister in a violent attack. Her death haunted him for decades, leading him down a dark path for many years.
But now, Kelsey Grammer is learning to find closure through telling her story. See what he had to say.
Kelsey Grammer Worked Hard To Come To Grips With His Sister’s Murder
In the summer of 1975, 18-year-old Karen Grammer was tragically raped and murdered by spree killer Freddie Glenn and two others. Kelsey Grammer was the one to identify his younger sister’s body. Losing Karen drove the actor to struggle with alcohol and drugs over the course of his life.
Now, he’s publicly speaking up about her murder. Grammer’s book Karen: A Memoir comes out next spring.
“It was a deeply troubling act by three young men,” the Frasier star shared on CBS Mornings.
When the interviewers asked why Grammer decided to tell his story in book form, he shared that it was an emotionally healing experience.
“Closure, grief … continuing closure for me,” he said. “And to pass on the idea that other people who have been through the same kind of grief, the same kind of just wrenching, forever grief, can turn to some things if they have the grace and the understanding that love is forever.”
Instead of focusing on the way Karen died, he chooses to focus on her memory and the way she lived.
“That love you had is real and forever. It doesn’t disappear, and that helped me a lot,” Grammer continued.
@cbsmornings “Frasier” actor Kelsey Grammer’s sister, Karen, was brutally murdered nearly 50 years ago. Now, he shares why he’s writing a book about her death and grief: “That love you had is real and forever.” #kelseygrammer #grief ♬ original sound – CBS Mornings
The Frasier Star Spent Many Years Soul-Searching After Losing Karen
Although Karen’s murder is an incredibly sensitive subject for Kelsey Grammer, he has spoken up about it over the years. Back in 2012, he told Oprah Winfrey that he wanted to forgive his sister’s killers, but he wanted them to take accountability for the crime. All three claimed they were innocent.
In 2014, Grammer said he did forgive Freddie Glenn, but would not support his release from prison. The actor claimed releasing Glenn back into the public would be an utter betrayal of Karen’s life and memory.
Kelsey Grammer welcomed his daughter, actress Spencer Grammer, in 1983. He gave her the middle name “Karen” to honor his late sister.
Follow TV Shows Ace online to keep up with the latest celebrity and entertainment news.
Nikole Behrens is a 2017 graduate of Ball State University where she finished with a degree in creative writing and a minor in Japanese. Today she is a professional writer for various companies and really enjoys contributing to TV Shows Ace.