Kelsey Grammer has opened up about the heartbreaking story of his sister Karen’s kidnapping and murder in a recent interview with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer. The actor discusses these painful memories in his new book, “Karen: A Brother Remembers,” which explores the bond he shared with his younger sister and the impact her tragic death had on his life.
Karen Grammer was just 18 years old when she was kidnapped in July 1975. At the time, she was employed in a Colorado restaurant. Kelsey Grammer appears on-screen to say that his sister was a rock of reassurance in their turbulent childhood. This meant they had an idyllic childhood accepting love from their mother while their father was largely away. “And she always reassured me I was doing a good job, that I was a good brother,” he recalled.
In the tragic Armed Forces Day incident, a group of men entered the restaurant where Karen worked and tried to rob the place. According to police reports, they changed their minds and, rather than drop her off elsewhere, escorted her to the now-infamous Eight Mile mobile home park. There, one of the assailants stabbed her at least 50 times before leaving her to die. There was once an awful moment when Kelsey Grammer received the news. At just 20 years old, he was trying to find his footing as an actor when a police officer knocked on his door to deliver the tragic news.
In the end, in 1976, Freddie Glenn was convicted for murdering Karen. He is currently serving a life sentence for his actions. Actor Kelsey Grammer has publicly stated that he plans to attend Glenn’s upcoming parole hearings to argue that Glenn should stay in prison.
In an interview with Variety, Kelsey Grammer touches on the dichotomy between his bawdy public persona and his private sorrow. He dedicated his life to inspiring joy through laughter, yet carried these “unbearable memories” in silence. “I always felt like I was missing it, just a little bit behind them — behind the game, not quite up to it,” he admitted. At the height of his television career, he struggled with a cocaine and alcohol addiction. These pressures were compounded by the emotional toll of losing his sister.
In his memoir, Kelsey Grammer guides us to the significant places tied to Karen’s narrative. One particularly memorable setting is the Red Lobster restaurant where she was employed. He poignantly describes Karen as “an Oreo cookie dipped in an ice cold Coca-Cola,” capturing her essence as a vibrant and joyful person.
“She was a poem, a light, fun, innocent, and wise,” Kelsey Grammer said of his sister. Most importantly, he celebrates the joy that comes from honoring the lives of people we’ve lost, like his father. While he spent a lot of time chronicling her tragic death, he wants readers to adopt this inspiring message.
This took me a lot of time writing about her death and almost no time writing about her life. And that I think is what I hope people will … take — spend time on the life you lost,” he said pensively.
Kelsey Grammer’s journey through grief and remembrance has led him to share these intimate stories in “Karen: A Brother Remembers,” aiming not to honor his sister’s memory but to connect with others who may have experienced similar losses.
