Kelsey Grammer Stars in "Young Washington," Calls Founding Fathers the Blueprint for a Divided Nation
Actor Kelsey Grammer, 71, is pressing Americans to return to the words and actions of the nation's Founding Fathers as the country approaches its 250th anniversary of independence. The push arrives alongside Grammer's role as aristocrat Thomas Fairfax in "Young Washington," a historical drama tracing George Washington's early years during the French and Indian War, well before his presidency.
Key takeaways
- Kelsey Grammer, 71, plays aristocrat Thomas Fairfax in "Young Washington," a historical drama about George Washington's early years during the French and Indian War.
- Angel Studios partnered with the U.S. Department of State to screen "Young Washington" at American embassies worldwide ahead of the July 4 milestone.
- Grammer urges Americans to return to the Founding Fathers' words and deeds as the nation nears its 250th anniversary of independence.
- Grammer's connection to Washington's story dates to 1984, when he played Lt. Stewart in the CBS miniseries "George Washington," and includes later roles as host and executive producer.
- Grammer named optimism as the American quality he most wants preserved and cited the founding ideal of equal opportunity rather than equal outcome as a unifying concept.
Actor Kelsey Grammer, 71, is pressing Americans to return to the words and actions of the nation's Founding Fathers as the country approaches its 250th anniversary of independence. The push arrives alongside Grammer's role as aristocrat Thomas Fairfax in "Young Washington," a historical drama tracing George Washington's early years during the French and Indian War, well before his presidency.
The Film and Its Global Stage
Angel Studios announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of State to screen "Young Washington" at American embassies around the world ahead of the July 4 milestone. Grammer, who also serves as host and executive producer on several Washington-related projects, described Fairfax as a mentor who recognized Washington's potential before the wider world did. In a statement, he framed the film's embassy tour as a reminder that freedom is an active responsibility, not a static inheritance passed between generations.
Grammer's Case for Founding-Era Wisdom
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Grammer argued that the greatest source of future wisdom for America has already been recorded in the Founders' words and deeds. He described the founding ideal — equal opportunity rather than equal outcome — as a unifying concept broad enough to hold across the country's full diversity. When asked which American quality he most wants preserved, he offered a single word: optimism.
His commentary on Washington extended to contemporary politics. He previously told Page Six Hollywood that Washington was not tolerant of what he viewed as whimsical governance, preferred limited government, and coupled humility with persistence — qualities Grammer said he would like to see reflected in present-day Washington, D.C.
Four Decades with Washington's Legacy
Grammer's connection to Washington's story stretches back to 1984, when he appeared as Lt. Stewart in the CBS miniseries "George Washington," one of his earliest television credits before landing "Cheers" later that same year. He portrayed Washington directly in the 2003 TV movie "Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor," hosted the eight-part Fox Nation series "Historic Battles for America" in 2022, and returned as host and executive producer of the 2024 Fox Nation docudrama "George: Rise of a Revolutionary."
The one question Grammer says still lingers after four decades of study: whether Washington actually chopped down the cherry tree. Historians note the story first appeared in an 1806 biography written after Washington's death and is considered apocryphal. Grammer's verdict was characteristically dry — he doubted it happened unless Washington thought the tree was already dying.
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Filed by the newsroom of MarketPR on June 29, 2026. Source: foxnews.com. Indicative figures are not investment advice.