Kelsey Grammer has recently shared poignant details about his sister Karen’s tragic kidnapping and murder in a compelling interview with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer. The conversation, centered around his new book “Karen: A Brother Remembers,” sheds light on the deep bond between the two siblings and the immense impact of her loss on his life.
In July 1975, Karen had barely turned 18. She was kidnapped from a restaurant in Colorado where she was employed. Law enforcement A gang of men snatched her to rob the business. Before long, they reneged on their promise to release her, intending instead to. They drove her to a nearby mobile home park, where Freddie Glenn stabbed her more than a dozen times, causing her tragic death.
Kelsey Grammer described his sister as “an Oreo cookie dipped in an ice cold Coca-Cola,” reflecting her sweetness and warmth. Having been raised in a loving home without her dad, Karen provided a calming influence and stabilizing presence in Kelsey’s life. What he recalled was the sense that he was always a bit behind the eight-ball. He got out of rhythm with the game and just didn’t feel like he was truly himself. She would constantly validate my experience, tell me that I was doing great, that I was a great big brother.
The aftermath of Karen’s murder had a profound effect on Kelsey Grammer’s life. At only 20 years old, he experienced one of the cruelest moments. A police officer showed up at his front door to share the tragic news. He opened up about how he’s spent years masking his hurt with humor. At the same time, he battled substance abuse problems at the height of his TV fame. “It’s remarkable that I survived some of that,” he said, reflecting on his struggles with cocaine and alcohol.
In his new illustration-heavy book, Kelsey Grammer takes readers back to the crime scenes. Gardenhired gives an intense sense of this Red Lobster where Karen was employed. He described in haunting detail her panicked dash to a neighbor’s home for assistance. Tragically, she passed out a few steps before she was able to ring the doorbell.
Of the trio, only Freddie Glenn was convicted of Karen’s murder in 1976 and he is still serving a life sentence. Further, Kelsey Grammer intends to show up at Glenn’s subsequent parole hearings. Now, he hopes to continue fighting for justice and ensure that Glenn never walks free again.
I spent a lot of time on her death and hardly any on her life. And that’s what I hope people will take –– invest, grieve over the life you lost. Focus on the life you lived instead of the day you died,” he said. This reflection illustrates his efforts to not only honor Karen’s memory, but explore the painful effects of her preventable death.
This experience with grief and remembrance has influenced not just Kelsey Grammer’s life as a father, but his work as an actor and producer. He described moments on set where he struggled with exhaustion, sometimes dozing off on benches until it was time for him to perform. “I might be asleep on one of the benches on the ‘Cheers’ set, and then when it was my turn I’d just stand up and go do it,” he shared.
Through “Karen: A Brother Remembers,” Kelsey Grammer provides an intimate look into his relationship with his sister and the lifelong effects of her tragic loss. He wants to reach anyone who has faced the same tragic loss to tell them there is hope.
