Gerrit Graham, cult star of Phantom of the Paradise, dies aged 76
The character actor behind Beef in Phantom of the Paradise died on 15 September in Rhinebeck, New York, from complications of lung disease, his family announced.
Gerrit Graham, the character actor best remembered as the electrocuted glam-rock star Beef in Brian De Palma’s 1974 cult musical Phantom of the Paradise, has died aged 76.
Graham died on Tuesday 15 September at an assisted living facility in Rhinebeck, New York, from complications of lung disease. His family announced the death in a statement on Facebook on Friday, saying he “passed away peacefully … comforted by the presence of his two sons at his side” (suggest.com). His ex-wife Dede Taylor confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.
Born in New York City on 27 November 1949, Graham met De Palma at Columbia University and appeared in several of the director’s early films, including Greetings, Hi, Mom! and Home Movies (Wikipedia). His screen career spanned nearly 130 credits: Used Cars (1980) opposite Kurt Russell, Demon Seed, Pretty Baby and Child’s Play 2, plus Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager — where he played Quinn, a member of the Q Continuum — and the voice of Franklin Sherman on The Critic.
Graham was also a songwriter: a longtime friend of the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, he co-wrote “Victim or the Crime”, recorded for the band’s 1989 album Built to Last (Hindustan Times).
He is survived by his sons Jack and Henry, and four grandchildren.
Sources
- The Hollywood Reporter, via Sunday Guardian: Gerrit Graham dies at 77 — sundayguardianlive.com
- Hindustan Times: Gerrit Graham cause of death — hindustantimes.com
- Gizmodo: RIP to Cult Actor Gerrit Graham — suggest.com
- Gerrit Graham — Wikipedia — en.wikipedia.org
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