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

moviesSep 18, 202624325

Gerrit Graham died Tuesday at age 77. Graham was best known as the flamboyant pop star Beef in Brian De Palma’s Phantom of the Paradise and for a long run of cult-film roles including Demon Seed (1977), Robert Zemeckis’ Used Cars (1980) opposite Kurt Russell, National Lampoon’s Class Reunion (1982), The Annihilators (1985), TerrorVision (1986), Chopping Mall (1986) and CHUD II: Bud the CHUD (1989), in which he played the title character. He appeared in the 1987 skateboarding film The Search for Animal Chin and played a foster father in Child’s Play 2 (1990). On television he guest-starred on Tales From the Crypt, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Voyager, and Babylon 5. Variety and other outlets note Graham was also a songwriter who collaborated with Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir and a screenwriter who wrote episodes of the 1980s Twilight Zone. Obituaries emphasize his decades-spanning career across film, television and songwriting and say he will be greatly missed.

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.

542h ago

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?

leemarvinoswald.bsky.social1

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

four loko's basilisk1

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

JJ Gittes1

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

Bart Bishop1

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

snowman882.bsky.social1

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.

492h 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...

332h ago

Daily Godzilla! 🏳️‍⚧️

@perfectgodzilla.bsky.social

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

272h ago

Patrick Labor

@trickthetm.bsky.social

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

162h 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.)

152h ago

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.

151h 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.

142h ago

Gizmodo

@gizmodo.com

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

92h ago

Tony Martin

@tonymartin.bsky.social

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

132h 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!

132h 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

92h 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