Niles Crane is the younger brother of Frasier Crane, the titular character of NBC spin-off sitcom Frasier. A running theme in Frasier is the jealousy and insecurity Niles (David Hyde Pierce) feels due to his older brother's more publicly recognized success. Niles does have his moments of sweet victory, such as a season 6 episode where it's revealed which Crane brother has the higher IQ. Still, given Niles's relationship with his older brother, it's actually quite fitting that something even as basic as Niles's age exists in the shadow of Frasier (Kelsey Grammer).
The very existence of Niles Crane as a Frasier character is a minor miracle. Frasier was supposed to be an only child in his spin-off series, continuing the precedent that was set on Cheers. David Hyde Pierce's headshot changed things because of his uncanny resemblance to a younger Grammer. The showrunners were so enthralled by Pierce's potential, the role of Niles Crane was created specifically for him. Niles may be a fan-favorite character on Frasier, but the focus on Frasier's character development has often come at the expense of Niles' own backstory. Combine that with the close likeness between Niles and Frasier, and it's only natural to wonder how old Niles actually is. Mercifully, knowing how old Frasier is makes up half the battle.
How Old Is Niles At the Beginning Of Frasier?
Frasier Crane is 41 at the beginning of Frasier in 1993. Given that Frasier is a linear show with each season corresponding to one year, that means Frasier is 52 by the end of the show's run in 2004. This provides context for figuring out Niles Crane's age. Season 3, episode 11 has a moment where Niles says, "I mean after all I've only been your brother for 38 years now." Frasier is 43 at that time. That means there is a difference of five years between the brothers, which aligns with the general consensus that Niles was most likely born around 1957 and Frasier was born in 1952. In other words, Niles is about 36 at the beginning of Frasier.
How Old Is Niles At The End Of Frasier?
Frasier ended after 11 seasons. In the series finale, Niles Crane is 47 when he wistfully tells his older brother, "I'll miss the coffees." It's an understated, appropriate end to Niles Crane's 11-year story arc. Even though Frasier ended on a high note with a two-part series finale, a rebooted version is set for a Paramount+ return. Whether David Hyde Pierce returns or not as Niles Crane, Niles' age would be around 63-65 years old. Pierce believes the next iteration of Frasier can work without Niles, but it would be a shame if the fan-favorite character didn't return.