(NewsNation) — “Frasier” star Kelsey Grammer is opening up about the decadeslong struggle he endured to come to terms with his sister’s 1975 murder.

The actor’s new book, “Karen: A Brother Remembers,” covers his relationship with his younger, free-spirited sibling and the devastating impact that her death had on him.

“The lesson that I’m trying to impart is that your grief will never go away,” Grammer told “On Balance.”

But the Emmy winner also said Thursday that it’s possible to offset grief with joy by focusing on the “goodness” of the person one has lost.

Karen Grammer was 18 when she was abducted, raped and fatally stabbed in Colorado, where her killer is serving a life sentence.

Although Grammer said he’s forgiven convicted murderer Freddie Glenn, he must also be held accountable. As for himself, the 70-year-old Grammer said he spent decades grappling with his own sense of guilt for not being able to protect his younger sister.

“But Karen is with me, and the greater joy is in my life now with her, rather than focusing so much on the tragedy,” he said.

Grammer also talked about his “Cheers” co-star George Wendt, who died this week at age 76. Wendt played wisecracking bar regular Norm Peterson on 11 seasons of the hit TV series, which would spawn Grammer’s “Frasier” follow-up show.

“It was amazing to think that every Thursday night, the entire country was waiting to hear what Norm was going to say next,” Grammer said, smiling. “He’d walk in, and he’d say ‘Hey, Sammy,’ and everybody was just waiting for the next thing to drop. And it was extraordinary, it really was.”