Fans and stars alike are mourning the death of Gerrit Graham, an actor known for his roles in several Brian De Palma films, Phantom of the Paradise included, and two Star Trek TV series.
Graham died at age 77 on Tuesday in Rhinebeck, New York, after living with lung disease and other ailments, according to Variety.
Under De Palma’s direction, Graham appeared in the 1968 film Greetings (Robert De Niro’s first feature-length film credit), 1970’s Hi, Mom!, 1974’s Phantom of the Paradise, and 1979’s Home Movies.
Graham’s other film roles included 1976’s Cannonball!, 1980’s Used Cars, 1990’s Child’s Play 2, 1993’s This Boy’s Life, and 1998’s One True Thing.
As a screenwriter, Graham wrote three episodes of the 1980s reboot of The Twilight Zone, co-wrote the Disney short The Prince and the Pauperand contributed material to the Disney films Oliver & Company and The Little Mermaid.
On television, Graham starred as Leonard Scribner on Stockard Channing in Just Friends and Roger Bender on Now and Again, he recurred on Dallas and Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, and he lent his voice to the animated series The Critic. He also guest-starred as a Hunter in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in 1993 and Quinn on Star Trek: Voyager in 1996.
One of Graham’s other claims to fame is that he co-wrote the Grateful Dead song “Victim or the Crime.”
The big-name stars who eulogized Graham on social media included Michael McKean, who had a personal connection to the deceased. “Gerrit Graham was a rock ’n’ roll soul trapped in the body of a brilliant comic actor,” the Better Call Saul actor wrote on X. “We were in a loosely-stitched bunch called the Pitchell Players, mid-70s, and he brung it, boy. He turned me on to some great music, too. RIP, Gerrit.”
Baby Driver director Edgar Wright also gave a touching tribute to the actor, writing on X, “Am most saddened to hear of the death of the actor Gerrit Graham. He burns up the screen so fabulously in an all-time favourite film of mine, Phantom of the Paradise, that I can’t think of him without picturing the ill-fated, flamboyant glam rocker Beef.”
Wright continued: “His role as Beef … is simply off-the-charts amazing. He’s a constant joy, from his unforgettable line readings to those insane dance moves. It’s a joyously outrageous performance in a film that raises the roof with its sheer energy. If you haven’t yet discovered this solid-gold cult classic, I urge you to pay tribute at the altar of Beef as soon as you can. Here’s to you, Gerrit, scene-stealer par excellence. We’re all sending salutations from the other side. Long live Beef!”
Graham is survived by brother Sam; sons Jack and Henry, and their wives, Talia and Joelle; and grandchildren Nolan, Micah, Vera, and Joey, according to Variety.