Gerrit Graham, Actor in ‘Phantom of the Paradise,’ Screenwriter and Grateful Dead Collaborator, Dies at 77

Gerrit Graham, an actor, screenwriter and songwriter who co-wrote a song for The Grateful Dead, died on Tuesday in Rhinebeck, N.Y. He was 77. He suffered from lung disease, among other ailments.

Graham began his career starring alongside Robert De Niro in early Brian De Palma films “Hi Mom!” and “Greetings,” later appearing in films such as “Demon Seed,” “Pretty Baby,” “Child’s Play 2” and “National Lampoon’s Class Reunion.” Skilled in impressions and accents, Graham also appeared in episodes of “Seinfeld,” “Laverne and Shirley” and “The Wonder Years,” and on both “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and “Star Trek: Voyager.”

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He played the glam rocker Beef, who is unveiled in a coffin and silenced in the shower with a plunger, in De Palma’s “Phantom of the Paradise,” and a sleazy used car salesman in Robert Zemeckis’ “Used Cars.”

As a screenwriter, Graham worked on projects including “The Little Mermaid,” “Oliver & Company” and episodes of “The Twilight Zone.” He co-wrote the Disney adaptation of “Prince and The Pauper” alongside his brother, Sam, and Chris Hubbell. Also a songwriter and lyricist, Graham most notably collaborated with Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead. They co-wrote “Victim or The Crime,” which was recorded by the band for their “Built To Last” album and later by Weir and Rob Wasserman on their 1998 “Live” album.

Graham was born in New York City to parents John and Janet, and the family went on to live in Missouri and Michigan before settling in Chicago. In 1982, he married his the former Deborah Cooper, with whom he had two children. He later left California and moved to Rhinebeck, N.Y., to care for his mother. His 30 years there included a stint with the Burger Hill Preservation Society.”

Graham is survived by his brother, Sam; his sons, Jack and Henry, and their wives, Talia and Joelle; and his four grandchildren, Nolan, Micah, Vera and Joey.