Actor Kelsey Grammer praised Jesus ahead of the UK release of a faith-based film which smashed box office predictions.
The Frazier star took a leading role in Jesus Revolution, playing Pastor Chuck in the film which grossed more than $50 million in the US.
The true story of a group of young people seeking truth and meaning on America’s West Coast in the 1970s more than doubled the highest predicted gross for its opening weekend across the Atlantic.
And before the UK release heralded by Sir Cliff Richard in a Facebook video, former Cheers star Grammer (pictured above) was vocal about his faith and admiration for Jesus’ message.
He told Movie Guide: “Jesus gets us and that you [should] love your enemy as yourself.
“There’s only one guy that ever preached that, and that’s Jesus. And there’s only one guy saying it today, and that’s still Jesus.
“We are surrounded by contrary information and the only one single clarion call is still from Jesus Christ saying this is the way.
“I’m not going to apologise for having faith. I don’t go around beating people over the head with it, but it is a beautiful thing and an invitation to walk in the light of love.”
Grammer added: “I’m deeply proud of this moment in my life and this opportunity. After we saw a copy of the film they sent to us in the early stages of editing, my wife was just sitting on the couch crying and said, ‘It’s the best thing you ever did!’”
INSPIRATIONAL
The role was inspirational, revealed Grammer: “What I liked about playing Pastor Chuck was the fact that he was at his wits’ end. His parish was dissolving and he was afraid he was going to lose his job, but at this moment of surrender [he said to God] ‘Your will be done.’
“Somebody said we have to close the [church] doors, and another person told him, well your doors are shut. And Chuck realised he had to open the door. And then God came in, and everybody came in and it was great.”
The film is overtly Christian, following a charismatic young evangelist, Lonnie Frisbee, whose influence led to a movement which eventually challenged traditional church culture.
Alongside Grammer, Joel Courtney plays young wanderer Greg Laurie and ‘The Chosen’ star Jonathan Roumie is charismatic evangelist Frisbee.
It shows how traditional pastor Chuck Smith embraced Frisbee’s unique brand of evangelism and opened church doors to hippies.
Scriptwriter Jon Erwin spoke of a “divine hand on the timing of the film” after a Christian ‘revival’ at a university campus coincided with its release.
Asbury University was the scene of the 2023 Asbury Revival which eventually attracted between 50,000 and 70,000 to the small Christian college in Wilmore, Kentucky, over 16 days.
Sir Cliff threw his weight behind the film with a Facebook video about its UK release that attracted thousands of likes.
