Legendary actor Kelsey Grammer began crying on national television this week while discussing his new movie Jesus Revolution, saying his wife Kayte calls the film the "best thing" he's ever done.
The five-time Emmy winner portrays Chuck Smith, a California pastor who opens his church and his home to a group of hippies who are attracted to the message of Jesus. It sparked a nationwide, student-led revival. The movie is set around 1970.
It opens nationwide in theaters on Feb. 24, with early shows on Feb. 22.
Grammer discussed the film on Wednesday's edition of Kelly and Ryan and began crying after the show aired a clip.
"You're tearing up," Kelly Ripa said.
"What are you feeling?" Ryan Seacrest asked.
"I love this movie. I really love it," Grammer said, trying to regain his composure. "When we first saw the first cut, we sat down in our home, and Kayte saw, and she said, 'Oh my gosh, it's the best thing you've ever done.' She started crying."
Check this out! Kelsey Grammer on the Live with Kelly and Ryan show talking about the Jesus Revolution Movie! pic.twitter.com/iAGyP2n9Sp
— Greg Laurie (@greglaurie) February 16, 2023
Grammer, holding back tears, continued.
"But [Smith is] a man looking for his own faith and finds it. A man whose church is empty and can't get traction, and he's starting to think he's going to be fired from his job as a pastor. And then this hippie comes into his life, and he finds a new purpose, and he started a movement that is still going on. It's extraordinary."
Smith founded the Calvary Chapel movement. Grammer said he's had people come up to him and say, "'You're playing Chuck Smith? I listen to him all the time,' or they say, 'He married us,' or 'I was baptized by Chuck Smith.' You can see this light in their eyes."
Jesus Revolution was made by the same filmmakers behind I Can Only Imagine and American Underdog. It stars Grammer, Jonathan Roumie and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
Related:
'Jesus Revolution' Is an 'Opportunity for Evangelism,' Producer Says of Feb. 24 Film
Kelsey Grammer Tears Up Discussing ‘Jesus Revolution’ On Kelly and Ryan - Inspirational Videos
Photo courtesy: ©Lionsgate, used with permission.
Video courtesy: ©Lionsgate
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
