California Patriot Profile: Actor Kelsey Grammer

I am thrilled to write a profile of a remarkable conservative patriot in California – Emmy Award-winning actor Kelsey Grammer. As you will read below, I have had my own experience with Kelsey, making this profile especially meaningful. Patriots have specific attributes in common – one of which is courage. What could be more courageous than to be an outspoken conservative in the entertainment industry?

A Rare Conservative Voice in Hollywood

Kelsey Grammer has long stood out as one of Hollywood’s most prominent and unapologetic conservatives—a self-described “rare spark of red in a blue sea of Democrats.” His political identity is not a recent development; Grammer has been a vocal supporter of conservative causes and the Republican Party for decades, endorsing figures such as Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Donald Trump and promoting the Tea Party movement’s calls for small government and lower taxes. In interviews, Grammer has emphasized that his conservatism is rooted in values like reason, fairness, and open-mindedness, explaining, “This has never been a position based upon anything but trying to make sense and being open-minded and fair to people, and that’s the foundational thinking behind conservatism.” Despite acknowledging that some in Hollywood remain closed off to conservative ideas, Grammer remains optimistic about the possibility of greater ideological diversity.

Speaking Out In Support Of Life

His willingness to speak his mind extends to social issues, including abortion. Grammer’s pro-life stance has become increasingly visible in recent years. In 2015, his wife posted a photo of him wearing a T-shirt from the anti-abortion group Abort73, emblazoned with the message, “Would it bother us more if they used guns?” This public gesture reflected Grammer’s willingness to engage in one of America’s most contentious debates. In his 2025 memoir, Karen: A Brother Remembers, he shares personal stories about abortion and the pain it has caused in his life, further underscoring his commitment to pro-life values.

Marked by Personal Tragedy

Yet Grammer’s conservatism and activism are deeply intertwined with personal tragedy. The violent loss of close family members has marked his life. In 1968, when Grammer was just 13, his father, Frank, was murdered outside their home in a racially motivated attack. Seven years later, his younger sister Karen was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by serial killer Freddie Glenn and his accomplices. Grammer, then 20, was left to identify his sister’s body—a trauma that would shape his life for decades. He recounts in his memoir the lifelong grief and anger that followed and the frustration of learning through a tabloid that his father’s killer had been released from custody.

Leadership on Crime Victims’ Rights

These tragedies propelled Grammer into national leadership on crime victims’ rights, which is how I met Kelsey. Through most of the previous decade, I played a leadership role in a great organization, Marsy’s Law for All, which led a movement to enshrine crime victims’ rights in state constitutions. Kelsey agreed to serve as a national spokesperson. In 13 states where Marsy’s Law has passed, Grammer has been featured in television spots, urging voters to support these constitutional amendments. His advocacy is deeply personal. It was something to be there for his tapings of these powerful ads. Here is the commercial we ran in the 2018 Florida campaign…

Grammer’s voice has been instrumental in helping crime victims gain equal rights in the criminal justice system, ensuring that their voices are heard alongside those of the accused.

Transforming Pain into Purpose

Through his memoir and his public advocacy, Grammer has transformed personal pain into a powerful call for justice and healing. In a landscape where political conformity is often the norm, his principled conservatism and leadership on crime victims’ rights make him a singular figure in Hollywood—one whose influence extends well beyond the screen.

A patriot, indeed.

Each week I profile a California conservative. Previous profiles have been of the late Andrew Breitbart, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, Congressman Kevin Kiley, and talk radio host Dennis Prager. If you have an idea for a patriot to profile, let me know!

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Kelsey Grammer, Hollywood, Conservatism, Marsy’s Law, Crime Victims’ Rights, Pro-Life, Republican, Memoir, Substack Politics, Celebrity Advocacy