Movies: The Doctor Is ... Blue

Part of what's fascinating about the X-Men characters is their wiring. They have power raging around inside them that's just barely held in check. Being a mutant is both a blessing and a curse. Beast is no different: he's a feral scrapper at heart, a big blue gorilla, but he tries to bury it under a sophisticated manner and fancy book learning and well-tailored suits. Casting the former Frasier as Beast was a nervy choice--Grammer says Fox took some convincing--but think about it: that dichotomy, Dr. Crane vs. Mr. Hyde, is exactly what the part needs. "When there's an actor who plays an iconic character on TV, it's hard to break that mold," says director Brett Ratner. "I think ultimately people will identify Kelsey as Beast instead of Frasier." (Before they filmed the climactic battle scene, Ratner had Grammer deliver the "band of brothers" speech from Henry V in full Beast regalia. Of such stuff are killer DVD extras made.)

Now, offscreen, the actor is plain old Mr. Grammer. He's clean and sober, and he has been married to the same woman, Camille Grammer (the Playboy bunny), since 1997. And he's rich. "I'm in semiretirement," he says. "I've got a new life, I've got a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old. I've got obligations at home. Family is now certainly more imperative than the career."

But you can't imagine him ever quite letting go of show business. "It's fun to be an actor," he says. "It saved my life. It gave me something to do with whatever mad brain I got." And show business isn't ready to let go of him. He'll never not be Frasier. Twice while we're talking, fans come over for autographs, which Grammer signs with superhuman graciousness. Being a celebrity is a lot like being a mutant. It comes with great powers, but, like Beast, you'll never pass for a human being again.