Gerrit Graham dies at 77, star of Phantom of the Paradise

moviesSep 18, 202636631

Gerrit Graham, the character actor best known as the flamboyant pop star Beef in Brian De Palma’s Phantom of the Paradise, has died at 77. His career began in the early 1970s and included memorable film turns in Demon Seed (1977), Used Cars (1980) opposite Kurt Russell, National Lampoon’s Class Reunion (1982), TerrorVision (1986), Chopping Mall (1986), CHUD II: Bud the CHUD (1989) and Child’s Play 2 (1990), in which he played a foster dad who tangles with Chucky. Graham appeared in the cult skateboarding film The Search for Animal Chin (1987) and had numerous TV credits, including Tales From the Crypt, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, and Babylon 5. Variety and other reports note he also wrote for television, penning episodes of the 1980s Twilight Zone, and collaborated musically with Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead. Colleagues and fans have highlighted his recurring ability to elevate small and large roles across decades of cult and genre work.

Comics in the Golden Age

@comicsinthega.bsky.social

In honor of Gerrit Graham's passing, I'm going to rewatch my favorite episode of Star Trek: Voyager.

Gerrit Graham as a Q who wants to commit suicide in an episode of Voyager.

15421d ago

Comics in the Golden Age25

I was so lukewarm on Voyager when it first aired and this was the first episode I really loved.

HTornado \Earth Mover\4

fantastic performance -- extra points for Q worldbuilding.

Quoting this

clyde bruckman's skeleton's final repost10

aw dang, i loved him in a ton of stuff apparently he was on the short-list to play odo! what a mensch

Mitch Wolfe2

Damn, I loved him in Phantom of the Paradise.

Hudsonette2

A great episode. Goodbye, Quinn.

Christian Mutig2

Oh shit, that was him? RIP.

Alan Sepinwall

@sepinwall.bsky.social

RIP, Gerrit Graham. My sister and I watched him in "Used Cars" approximately a bajillion times growing up. I can't find a YouTube clip of his funniest scene, involving Jeff's intense superstition, but his turn as Marshall Lucky in a fake ad is pretty great, too.

7521d ago

JJ Gittes3

Gerrit Graham gave one of the all-time great comic performances in “Phantom of the Paradise”. Vaya con dios, sir.

ajsegal50.bsky.social3

Why don’t any of the obits in listing his television credits state that he was a cast member of the CBS series Now and Again (1999) - the one where John Goodman is killed by a subway and his brain in then implanted in a super human Eric Close?

Bart Bishop3

Is it when he realizes he's driving a red car? youtu.be/zbaI3kCZzq0?...

leemarvinoswald.bsky.social2

Loved that movie as a kid! Not to mention a cameo with Michael McKean and David Lander.

four loko's basilisk2

the part where he shoots High Prices and he slides down the hood **killed** me for years thanks, cable TV!

snowman882.bsky.social2

The whole grift with the dog Toby to sell a car is pretty great as well.

Dogspunk

@dogspunk.bsky.social

Sad to hear of Gerrit Graham’s passing. Truly the best part of Phantom of the Paradise, and my favorite Q as well. RIP.

5821d ago

Daily Godzilla! 🏳️‍⚧️

@perfectgodzilla.bsky.social

Phantom of the Paradise (1974). Rest in Peace Gerrit Graham.

3521d ago

please stop forgetting how elections work i beg of you

@tonygoldmark.bsky.social

RIP Gerrit Graham. This is still one of the most impressive stunts I've ever seen a lead actor perform in a movie, with no way to fake it in the pre-CGI era. Also fantastically funny as the voice of Jay's demented adoptive dad on The Critic. He will be dearly missed. www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2iT...

3921d ago

Cap'n Peanut B. Crunch sez "ABOLISH ICE FOR GOOD!"2

"Son, if I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times...who are all you people?" - Nilknarf

NikT0oNz1

I remember Patton Oswalt mentioned this scene on an episode of “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend”, and yeah, he was not joking around about how he could’ve easily been injured or worse 😅🚗😖 youtu.be/761UOGrgeYQ?...

the antisocialite, 🎩 jaunty feral1

@wesmoodykc.bsky.social have you seen this film?!?

Elana Levin

@levin.bsky.social

I love Phantom of the Paradise. Thank you Gerrit Graham.

2821d ago

Elana Levin9

Also Paul Williams’ character, Swan is just basically Gender. Someone needs to make me his entire wardrobe. But taller. I’m taller than Williams.

Elle1

Just a brilliant character, in a brilliant film. Beef is a very important character to me.

Brian W. Collins

@brianwcollins.bsky.social

Gerrit Graham was killed by Chucky, the Phantom, a Killbot, and an It's Alive mutant baby. He also got to be a CHUD. Not even joking when I say that's a career to be envious of.

3421d ago

Patrick Labor

@trickthetm.bsky.social

RIP Gerrit Graham. Still one of my favorite scenes. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JsZ...

1821d ago

Aaron Alexovich

@aaronalexovich.bsky.social

Ugh. So sad to hear about Gerrit Graham. One of those guys who made everything he was 100% cooler. If you haven't seen Phantom of the Paradise, do yourself a favor and correct that immediately. (If you have seen it, TerrorVision is your next stop.)

1721d ago

Tony Martin

@tonymartin.bsky.social

RIP Gerrit Graham, who somehow survived this moment in USED CARS: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2iT...

1721d ago

Phil Theobald

@whimsicalphil.bsky.social

Oh, man... that sucks. I always loved seeing Gerrit Graham show up in stuff.

Gerrit Graham as Quinn on Star Trek: Voyager.

1421d ago

Gizmodo

@gizmodo.com

Graham also appeared on multiple 'Star Trek' shows and played the title character in 'CHUD II: Bud the CHUD.'

921d ago

Pat Brosseau

@droog811.bsky.social

R.I.P. Gerrit Graham. I loved this guy in some great movies—The Phantom of the Paradise, Home Movies, Used Cars, Chopping Mall. He was so good!

1521d ago

Lee from the Internet

@theinternetslee.bsky.social

With Gerrit Graham’s passing there does not seem to be any choice about which movie to watch tonight. Now rewatching Phantom of the Paradise (1974). It’s my civic duty as a Winnipegger to make sure I watch this every couple years RIP Beef 📽️ #horrorsky

1121d ago

wrongtom

@wrongtom.bsky.social

Very sad to hear Gerrit Graham died a few days ago. I love him in DePalma’s Hi Mom! and Greetings. Here he is in an impromptu scene when they encountered artist Richard Hamilton hanging out on a park bench in Greenwich Village

1021d ago

3 sources

variety.comGerrit Graham, Actor in ‘Phantom of the Paradise,’ Screenwriter and Grateful Dead Collaborator, Dies at 77 gizmodo.comRIP to Cult Actor Gerrit Graham, Star of 'Phantom of the Paradise' and 'Child's Play 2'avclub.comR.I.P. Gerrit Graham, actor in Phantom Of The Paradise and The Critic

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Gerrit Graham dies at 77, star of Phantom of the Paradise

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