David Hyde Pierce's absence makes the Frasier reboot a story of tragedy. After his stint in Boston on Cheers, Frasier Crane moved back to his hometown of Seattle where he was reunited with his family on Frasier. That included his brother, Niles. Throughout Frasier's 11-year run on NBC, Frasier Crane's personal arc became tightly intertwined with his family, particularly Niles, with whom he spent a lot of time. It was disappointing that Niles was not involved in the upcoming Frasier reboot. It made some fans wonder how did Niles die in Frasier? The good news is that he didn't.
Kelsey Grammer revealed that David Hyde Pierce's Niles was not returning in the Frasier reboot. That in itself is already a big loss considering how beloved the actor was in the role, not to mention Niles' importance in the success of the original Frasier series. Aside from that, however, Niles' absence from Frasier's revival story suggests that the pair lost their brotherly closeness. Otherwise, Niles would at least visit his older brother during the reboot. After more than a decade of spending almost every day with each other, it is undeniably tragic that Frasier and Niles drifted apart, adding a sad note to the Frasier reboot's story.
Why David Hyde Pierce Isn’t Returning As Niles In The Frasier Reboot
According to Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce decided not to return as Niles on Paramount Plus's Frasier reboot because he didn't want to repeat his performance of the character. As the star and producer of the project, Grammer expressed his respect for Pierce's decision, but Niles' absence has forced the reboot to go in a different creative direction. Niles not returning in a Frasier reboot was already revealed by Pierce back in 2017 before there were clear plans for a Frasier reboot. The actor didn't think there would be a justified reason to do so. Sadly, he maintained that stance even after Grammer's pitch for the show on Paramount Plus.
Can The Frasier Reboot Work Without Niles (& The Rest Of The Original Cast?)
Alongside David Hyde Pierce's Niles Crane, John Mahoney's Martin Crane, Jane Leeves' Daphne Moon, and Peri Gilpin's Roz Doyle all played significant parts in Frasier. Without them, the beloved comedy would arguably not be as successful as it was. Despite being the lead, it would have been difficult for Frasier Crane to carry the show alone. Grammer's character thrives when interacting with other people. The ensemble surrounding Frasier determines whether he will be funny or offensive. Frasier and Cheers both had great casts that played to this strength. The Paramount Plus endeavor needed something similar again to be successful.
The Paramount Plus Frasier reboot took a massive risk in starting from scratch and building another ensemble that compliments Grammer's highbrow psychiatrist. Since David Hyde Pierce is not part of the revival, his wife, Daphne, is highly unlikely to appear in the show as well. Between Niles, Daphne, and the loss of Martin, Frasier Crane will have lost the close bond he once shared with his family whom he reconnected with during his time in Seattle. The Frasier reboot may find its titular character truly alone.
New Update Furthers Tragic Niles Theory
While fans can celebrate that the answer to "how does Niles die in Frasier" is that he didn't, there is still sadness about David Hyde Pierce not appearing on the show. The reason Frasier is away from his family and by himself again has finally been explained. In the Frasier reboot, Frasier Crane has moved back to Boston. His own show took place in Seattle, where he returned to where his family lived and set up with them again. However, when he first appeared on TV, Frasier was in Boston on the sitcom Cheers. He is back there with the Frasier reboot on Paramount Plus. However, this might end up making Niles' story even more tragic.
He might not be dead, but it looks like Niles and Frasier might have had a falling out and the two are no longer as close as they were in the original series. Of course, while David Hyde Pierce is not on the show, that doesn't mean that Frasier can't allude to speaking to him or exchanging messages, but if Pierce is against his character's return, the show might move away from him and estrange the two brothers. Mentioning Niles would make fans want to see him back, but ignoring him would leave a lingering question of why the brothers are no longer there for each other in the Frasier reboot.