Gerrit Graham
Gerrit Graham | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).JPG) Graham in Just Friends, 1979 | |
| Born | November 27, 1948 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | September 15, 2026 (aged 77) Rhinebeck, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Columbia University |
| Occupations | Actor, songwriter, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1968–2012 |
| Spouse |
Deborah Cooper (m. 1982) |
| Children | 2 |
Gerrit Graham (November 27, 1948 – September 15, 2026) was an American stage, television and film actor, as well as a scriptwriter and songwriter.[1] He was best known for his appearances in multiple films by Brian De Palma as well as appearances in two Star Trek series. He starred in Used Cars with Kurt Russell and voiced Franklin Sherman on The Critic.
Early life and education
[edit]Gerrit Graham was born in New York City on November 27, 1948, to parents John and Janet Graham. The family went on to live in Missouri and Michigan before settling in Chicago.[2][3][4]
Graham attended, but did not graduate from Columbia University. At Columbia, he was the head of Columbia Players, the college theater company.[5][6][7] His future co-worker, Brian De Palma, was also a former manager of the student group during his undergraduate years.[8]
Career
[edit]Actor
[edit]Film
[edit]Graham appeared in films such as Used Cars, TerrorVision, National Lampoon's Class Reunion, Child's Play 2 and Greetings,[1][9] where he worked with Brian De Palma for the first time. He again worked with De Palma on Hi, Mom! and Home Movies, as well as Phantom of the Paradise, where he played flamboyant glam-rocker Beef.[10][11] Sheila Benson of the Los Angeles Times remarked that Graham and Jon Lovitz were the only actors in Last Resort who were "exempt from the bad-accent stigma."[12]
Television
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Graham was in the television special Super Vision (1976).[13] He was in Just Friends as Leonard Scribner.[14] Graham in was in six episodes of the twelfth season of the prime time soap opera Dallas as Fred Hughes.[15] He was the voice of Franklin Sherman in the animated series The Critic as well as a recurring role as Dr. Norman Pankow on the sitcom Parker Lewis Can't Lose.[4][9]
He portrayed two different characters within the Star Trek franchise: the alien hunter of Tosk on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and a member of the Q Continuum who adopts the name Quinn in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Death Wish". He was once considered, along with René Auberjonois and Andrew Robinson, for the role of Odo, which went to Auberjonois. Robinson was later cast as Elim Garak.[16][17][18]
Stage
[edit]Graham was a stage performer who was in the touring company The Second City. His performances in the 1986 improvisational show Sills & Company[19][20] and the 1987 play Bouncers by John Godber[21][22] were positively reviewed by the New York Times. Julio Martinez of Variety called Graham "eerily evocative" of Allard Lowenstein in Dreams Die Hard in 1995.[23] Frank Rizzo of Variety wrote that Graham had "some of the best lines" in his performance as Father Charles Dunbar in The God Committee in 2004.[24] He also played Julian in Communicating Doors in 1998.[25]
Writer
[edit]Graham wrote the teleplays for the episodes "Still Life" and "Opening Day" of the 1980s version of The Twilight Zone.[26] He did not write "Welcome to Winfield", the only episode in which he appeared as a member of the cast. Graham worked as a writer on The Little Mermaid. Along with his brother, Sam, and Chris Hubbell, he co-wrote the Disney film The Prince and the Pauper.[3]
Musician
[edit]Graham was a longtime friend and songwriting collaborator of Bob Weir, guitarist and vocalist of the Grateful Dead. The two met in the 1970s and began writing together in the early 1980s. Their collaboration produced "Victim or the Crime", for which Weir supplied the initial chorus and Graham developed the lyrics. The song was recorded by the Grateful Dead for their 1989 album Built to Last[27] and became part of the band's concert repertoire.[28][29]
He also contributed lyrics to Weir's side project Bobby and the Midnites, including "(I Want to Live in) America" and "City Girls", both released in 1984. Following the Grateful Dead's dissolution in 1995, he continued collaborating with Weir through RatDog. In a 1999 interview with The New Yorker, Graham explained that he had accumulated a collection of unused lyrics while waiting for the Grateful Dead to record another album. He subsequently developed several songs with Weir for RatDog, including "Two Djinn", which he identified as his favorite of their collaborations.[28][30]
Graham received songwriting credits on four tracks from RatDog's 2000 studio album Evening Moods: "Bury Me Standing", "Odessa", "Two Djinn" and "Even So". His contributions were primarily lyrical, with the music developed by Weir and other members of RatDog.[31][32]
The collaboration continued into the 2000s, with Graham providing lyrics for additional RatDog compositions, including "Money for Gasoline" and "Just Like Mama Said".[33]
Personal life and death
[edit]Graham married Deborah Cooper in 1982. They had two children together, Jack and Henry.[3] He died of complications from lung disease on September 15, 2026, at the age of 77.[3][4]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Greetings[3] | Lloyd Clay | |
| 1970 | Hi, Mom![3] | Gerrit Wood | |
| 1972 | Beware! The Blob | Joe, Ape-Suited Party Guest | |
| 1974 | Phantom of the Paradise[3] | Beef | |
| 1976 | Tunnel Vision | Freddie | |
| Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw[4] | Ray "Magic Ray" | ||
| Special Delivery[9] | Swivot | ||
| Cannonball![4] | Perman Waters | ||
| 1977 | Demon Seed[3] | Walter Gabler | |
| 1978 | Pretty Baby[3] | "Highpockets" | |
| 1979 | Old Boyfriends[9] | Sam, The Fisherman | |
| Home Movies[4] | James Byrd | ||
| 1980 | Used Cars[3] | Jeff | |
| 1982 | Soup for One[9] | Brian | |
| National Lampoon's Class Reunion[3] | Bob Spinnaker | ||
| 1983 | The Creature Wasn't Nice[4] | Rodzinski | |
| 1985 | The Annihilators[4] | Ray Track | |
| The Man with One Red Shoe[9] | Carson | ||
| 1986 | TerrorVision[9] | Stan | |
| Chopping Mall[9] | Nessler, The Technician | ||
| Last Resort[4] | Curt | ||
| Ratboy[9] | Billy Morrison | ||
| 1987 | It's Alive III: Island of the Alive[9] | Ralston | |
| Walker[9] | Norvell Walker | ||
| The Search for Animal Chin | Skateboard Manufacturer | ||
| 1989 | Big Man on Campus[9] | Stanley Hoyle | |
| Police Academy 6: City Under Siege[9] | "Ace" | ||
| C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D.[9] | Bud Oliver / Bud the C.H.U.D. | ||
| Martians Go Home[9] | Stan Garrett | ||
| The Little Mermaid | Additional voices | Uncredited | |
| 1990 | Night of the Cyclone | Lieutenant John France | |
| Child's Play 2[3] | Phil Simpson | ||
| 1992 | Frozen Assets[9] | Lewis Crandall | |
| Sidekicks | Mr. Mapes | ||
| 1993 | This Boy's Life[4] | Mr. Howard | |
| Philadelphia Experiment II[9] | Dr. William Mailer / Friedrich Mahler | ||
| 1994 | My Girl 2[9] | Dr. Sam Helburn | |
| 1995 | Stuart Saves His Family | Male Diner | Uncredited |
| The Break[9] | Bill Cowens | ||
| 1996 | Magic in the Mirror: Fowl Play | Bloom | |
| 1998 | One True Thing[1] | Oliver Most | |
| 2005 | Building Girl | Mr. Minard | |
| 2007 | Chaotic Ana[1] | Mr. Halcón | |
| 2008 | Stick It in Detroit | Captain John Willoughby | |
| 2012 | Cove Road | The Hitchhiker |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Rookies | Eric | Episode: "Prelude to Vengeance" |
| Harry O | Charles Dillon | Episode: "Accounts Balanced" | |
| 1975 | The Hatfields and the McCoys[9] | Calvin McCoy | Made-for-TV movie directed by Clyde Ware |
| Baretta | Rick Parrish | Episode: "The 5½ Pound Junkie" | |
| Strange New World[9] | Daniel | Made-for-TV movie Robert Butler | |
| Medical Story | Dr. David Lessing | Episode: "The Right to Die" | |
| 1976 | Super Vision[13] | Self | Television special directed by Harold Ramis; Segment: "2"; uncredited |
| Dynasty[9] | Carver Blackwood | Made-for-TV movie directed by Lee Philips | |
| Starsky & Hutch[4] | Nick Manning | Episode: "Nightmare" | |
| 1977 | Future Cop | Cliff Yancey | Episode: "The Mad Mad Bomber" |
| Dog and Cat | Mick | Episode: "A Duck Is a Duck" | |
| 1978 | Laverne & Shirley[3] | Nathan | Episode: "The Dance Studio" |
| 1979 | Just Friends[14] | Leonard Scribner | 13 episodes |
| 1982 | New Wave Theatre | Man on Stage | Episode #1.2; uncredited |
| 1983 | The A-Team | Brother Stephen | Episode: "Children of Jamestown" |
| Likely Stories, Vol. 2 | Soap Opera Guy | Made-for-TV movie directed by David Jablin | |
| The Dukes of Hazzard | Baldwin | Episode: "A Baby for the Dukes"; uncredited | |
| 1984 | Whiz Kids | Jerry Bingers | Episode: "Watch Out!" |
| The Ratings Game[9] | Parker Braithwaite | Made-for-TV movie directed by Danny DeVito | |
| 1986 | The Twilight Zone | Griffin St. George | Segment: "Welcome to Winfield" |
| Fame | Mister Wacky | Episode: "Mister Wacky's World" | |
| 1986–87 | Sidekicks | Phil Krawcheck | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | St. Elsewhere[4] | Mr. Gillette | Episode: "Cold War" |
| Throb | George | Episode: "Genius" | |
| Sledge Hammer! | Prosecuting Attorney | Episode: "Jagged Sledge" | |
| Rags to Riches | Guest | Episode: "Vegas Rock" | |
| 1988 | Miami Vice | Calvin Teal | Episode: "The Cows of October" |
| My Two Dads | Carlton Crow | Episode: "The Family in Question" | |
| 1988–89 | Dallas[4] | Fred Hughes | 6 episodes |
| 1989 | Dear John[9] | Gary | Episode: "For a Friend" |
| Tales from the Crypt | Theodore Carne | Episode: "The Man Who Was Death" | |
| The Young Riders | J.D. Marcus | Episode: "Ten-Cent Hero" | |
| The Nutt House | Eric – Safety Inspector | Episode: "A Night at the Reunion" | |
| 1990 | Sugar and Spice[9] | Cliff | Episode: "The Truck Stops Here" |
| China Beach[4] | Captain Soubra | Episode: "The Gift" | |
| Parenthood | Ed Lambkin | Episode: "My Dad Can Beat Up Your BMW" | |
| 1990–92 | Parker Lewis Can't Lose[9] | Dr. Norman Pankow | Recurring role |
| 1991 | The Wonder Years[3] | Dr. Tucker | Episode: "Courage" |
| Stat[9] | Dr. Gus Rivers | 2 episodes | |
| Reasonable Doubts[9] | Patrick Pierce | Episode: "Dicky's Got the Blues" | |
| Davis Rules | Howard Buckley | Episode: "They're Writing Songs of Love, But Nun for Me" | |
| 1992 | A Different World[9] | Henry Krum | Episode: "Bedroom at the Top" |
| TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes | Photographer | Episode: "Sherman Hemsley/Melissa Reeves" | |
| The New WKRP in Cincinnati | P.J. Bartman | Episode: "Sex, Lies & Videotape" | |
| Likely Suspects[9] | Billy Burrows | Episode: "The Cheese Stands Alone" | |
| Civil Wars[9] | Whit Buffum | Episode: "Below the Beltway" | |
| Seinfeld[3] | Clown | Episode: "The Opera"; uncredited | |
| Fievel's American Tails[9] | Cat Roger Waul (voice) | Recurring role; 10 episodes | |
| Family Matters[9] | Landlord | Episode: "The Oddest Couple" | |
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine[3] | The Hunter | Episode: "Captive Pursuit" |
| Love Matters[9] | Phillips | Episode: "Vegas Rock" | |
| Moon Over Miami[9] | Tommy Fender | Episode: "In a Safe Place" | |
| 1993–95 | The Pink Panther | Various | Voice; 39 episodes |
| 1994 | Babylon 5[1] | Lord Kiro | Episode: "Signs and Portents" |
| Shake, Rattle and Rock![9] | Lipsky | Made-for-TV movie directed by Allan Arkush | |
| Diagnosis: Murder[9] | Joseph Boland | Episode: "My Four Husbands" | |
| 1994–95 | The Critic[4] | Franklin Sherman (voice) | Recurring role; 23 episodes |
| 1995 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman[9] | Munch | Episode: "The Eyes Have It" |
| Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare[9] | Mark McKenna Sr. | Made-for-TV movie directed by Neal Israel | |
| The Wasp Woman[9] | Arthur | Made-for-TV movie directed by Jim Wynorski | |
| The Tick | Milo (voice) | Episode: "Armless But Not Harmless" | |
| The Larry Sanders Show[4] | Kevin | Episode: "0.409" | |
| National Lampoon's Favorite Deadly Sins[9] | The Devil | Made-for-TV movie directed by David Jablin and Denis Leary | |
| Dumb and Dumber | Various (voices) | 2 episodes | |
| 1995–96 | Gargoyles | Guardian (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 1996 | Weird Science | Dr. Victor Frankenstein | Episode: "Searching for Boris Karloff" |
| Star Trek: Voyager[3] | Quinn | Episode: "Death Wish" | |
| 1996–97 | Bruno the Kid | Additional voices | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | The Love Letter[1] | Warren Whitcomb | Made-for-TV movie directed by Dan Curtis |
| 1998–2000 | Law & Order[4] | Mr. Hutchins / Alan Bruder | 2 episodes |
| 1999–2000 | Now and Again[1] | Roger Bender | Recurring role; 22 episodes |
| 2005 | Third Watch[1] | Charles Benjamin | Episode: "Welcome Home" |
| 2009 | Au Pair 3: Adventure in Paradise[1] | Rupert | Made-for-TV movie directed by Mark Griffiths |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Gerrit Graham – About This Person – Movies & TV". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ↑ "Obituary information for Gerrit Graham". Burnett & White Funeral Homes. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Fedak, Tanya (September 18, 2026). "Gerrit Graham, Actor in 'Phantom of the Paradise,' Screenwriter and Grateful Dead Collaborator, Dies at 77". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 60626328. Archived from the original on September 18, 2026. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Barnes, Mike (September 18, 2026). "Gerrit Graham, Actor in 'Phantom of the Paradise,' 'Pretty Baby' and 'Used Cars,' Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on September 18, 2026. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ Hunter 2015, p. 426.
- ↑ Graham, Gerrit (May 10, 2004). "The Crime, and Its Victims". The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics. University of California, Santa Cruz. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ↑ Gencarelli, Mike (October 29, 2014). "Gerrit Graham talks about roles in "Phantom of the Paradise" and "Used Cars"". MediaMikes. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ↑ Ditlea, Steve (April 28, 1969). "Brian De Palma is a revolutionary". Columbia Daily Spectator. Vol. CXIII, no. 106. Spectator Publishing Company, Inc. OCLC 665221386. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 "Gerrit Graham – Filmography – Movies & TV". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ↑ Abley & Doupé 2024, p. 286.
- ↑ Laycock, John (March 10, 1975). "Phantom is funny but not a paradise". Windsor Star. Postmedia Network. p. 9. ISSN 0839-2277. OCLC 723967057. Retrieved September 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Benson, Sheila (May 9, 1986). "Family Vacation Goes Awry In 'Last Resort'". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- 1 2 Stein 2013, p. 119.
- 1 2 Clarendon, Dan (September 19, 2026). "Gerrit Graham Dies: Actor of 'Star Trek' & 'Phantom of the Paradise' Was 76". TV Insider. TV Guide. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ Morris 2004, pp. 165–167.
- ↑ "Andrew Robinson: First Person". StarTrek.com. Paramount Skydance. Archived from the original on February 7, 2004. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
- ↑ "Catching Up with 2X Trek Guest Gerrit Graham". StarTrek.com. Paramount Skydance. November 5, 2016. Archived from the original on August 9, 2025. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
- ↑ Ruditis 2003, p. 85.
- ↑ Gussow, Mel (July 20, 1986). "Stage View; Actors And Audiences Brew Fun From Improvisation". The New York Times. p. 3, section 2. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ↑ Bennetts, Leslie (June 8, 1986). "If It Works, It's Theater. If It Doesn't..." The New York Times. p. 1, section 2. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ↑ Rich, Frank (September 18, 1987). "The Stage: 'Bouncers,' Drama". The New York Times. p. 3-C. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ↑ Drake, Sylvie (July 8, 1993). "Stage Review : 'Bouncers' Rebounds From A Lack Of Substance At Tiffany". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ↑ Martinez, Julio (March 8, 1995). "Dreams Die Hard". Variety. Variety, Inc (now Penske Media Corporation). ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 60626328. Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ↑ Rizzo, Frank (July 27, 2004). "The God Committee". Variety. Variety, Inc (now Penske Media Corporation). ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 60626328. Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ↑ Isherwood, Charles (August 24, 1998). "Communicating Doors". Variety. Variety, Inc (now Penske Media Corporation). ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 60626328. Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ↑ Lofficier, Jean-Marc; Lofficier, Randy (April 2003). Into the Twilight Zone: The Rod Serling Programme Guide. iUniverse. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-595-27612-7.
- ↑ Trager 1997, p. 384.
- 1 2 Wilkinson, Alec (December 20, 1999). "The Musical Life". The New Yorker. Condé Nast. eISSN 2163-3827. OCLC 320541675. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
- ↑ Dodd, David (March 6, 2014). "Greatest Stories Ever Told – Victim or the Crime". Grateful Dead. Archived from the original on September 19, 2026. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Gerrit Graham Discography". Grateful Dead Family Discography. Archived from the original on August 22, 2026. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Evening Moods". Grateful Dead Family Discography. Archived from the original on September 19, 2026. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
- ↑ Hogan, Ray (November 25, 2000). "Weir Resurrects the Dead Touch on Ratdog's 'Evening Moods'". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Archived from the original on September 20, 2026. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Other Lyricists". Grateful Dead Lyric and Song Finder. Archived from the original on September 19, 2026. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
Sources
[edit]- Abley, Sean; Doupé, Tyler (2024). Queer Horror: A Film Guide (eBook). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 286. ISBN 978-1476651514.
- Hunter, Robert (2015). The complete annotated Grateful Dead lyrics: the collected lyrics of Robert Hunter and John Barlow, lyrics to all original songs, with selected traditional and cover songs (Hardcover). New York City: Simon and Schuster. p. 426. ISBN 978-1-5011-2332-0. OCLC 966502215.
- Morris, Bruce B. (2004). Prime Time Network Serials: Episode Guides, Casts and Credits for 37 Continuing Television Dramas, 1964-1993 (eBook). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. pp. 165–167. ISBN 978-1476609881.
- Ruditis, Paul (2003). Star Trek: Voyager Companion (Paperback). New York City: Pocket Books. p. 85. ISBN 978-0743417518.
- Stein, Ellen (2013). That's Not Funny, That's Sick: The National Lampoon and the Comedy Insurgents Who Captured the Mainstream (eBook). New York City: W. W. Norton & Company. p. 119. ISBN 978-0393084375.
- Trager, Oliver (1997). The American Book of the Dead (Paperback). New York City: Toucjtone Books. p. 384. ISBN 978-0684814025.
External links
[edit]
- Gerrit Graham at IMDb
- Gerrit Graham at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
