Gerrit Graham, most prominently known for his role in Brian De Palma’s Phantom of the Paradise, has passed away at 77. According to The Hollywood Reporter, which was informed of the news by Graham’s ex-wife, Dede Taylor, the actor died at an assisted living facility located in Rhinebeck, New York, due to complications from lung disease.
In Phantom of the Paradise, Graham played the role of an electrocuted rock star, Beef. While that’s the most notable Brian De Palma film Graham acted in, he worked with De Palma from the beginning, making his on-screen debut in one of De Palma’s earliest films, Greetings (1968), and playing a different role in its follow-up, Hi Mom! (1970), alongside a young Robert De Niro. The actor later worked with De Palma on Home Movies (1979), which starred Kirk Douglas.
Other roles include Paul Bartel’s Cannonball! (1976), Demon Seed (1977), Louis Malle’s Pretty Baby (1978), Robert Zemeckis’ Used Cars (1980), and Child’s Play 2 (1990). The actor’s repertoire is even more expansive than that, having also played roles in Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw (1976), The Creature Wasn’t Nice (1981), National Lampoon’s Class Reunion (1982), The Annihilators (1985), Last Resort (1986), and This Boy’s Life (1993). In addition, the actor also wrote the Grateful Dead song “Victim or the Crime” with Bob Weir. He also had an extensive writing career, contributing to the scripts for the animated Disney films Oliver & Company and The Little Mermaid, and co-writing the 1990 short film The Prince and the Pauper with his brother, Sam Graham.
Graham is survived by his two sons, Jack and Henry, and his grandchildren, Nolan, Micah, Vera and Joey.
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