Todd Graff

Todd Graff
Born Todd Graff
October 22, 1959
New York, New York, United States
Years active 1970–present
Spouse(s) John Lafaurie (2014–present)

Todd Graff (born October 22, 1959) is an American actor, writer and director, best known for his 2003 independent film Camp and his role as Alan "Hippy" Carnes in the 1989 science fiction film The Abyss.

Early life

Graff was born in New York City, the son of Judith Clarice (née Oxhorn), a piano teacher and choirmaster, and Jerome Lawrence Graff, a musician.[1] His sister is actress Ilene Graff.[2]

Career

Graff is an alumnus both as a camper and counselor of the Stagedoor Manor performing arts summer camp in upstate New York. He sang on the original-cast albums of Sesame Street (1970) and the follow-up Sesame Street 2 (1971). He garnered fame in 1975 when he joined the cast of the PBS children's television series The Electric Company. Playing the role of Jesse, a member of the Short Circus, he remained with the show to the end of its production in 1977 (replacing Stephen Gustafson).[3]

Graff's writing credits include Camp, Used People, The Vanishing, and The Beautician and the Beast. Graff acted in several films including Death to Smoochy, Dominick and Eugene, Strange Days, Not Quite Paradise, and The Abyss.[3]

He was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Danny in Broadway's Baby in 1984. He starred in the 1987 Off-Broadway musical Birds of Paradise as Homer. In 2006, Graff directed the stage musical 13 by Jason Robert Brown and Dan Elish at the Mark Taper Forum.[4] In 2009, he co-wrote and directed the film Bandslam. In 2012 he wrote and directed the film Joyful Noise.

Filmography

Movies

Movie Character Year
P.O.P. Johnny Gordon 1984
Five Corners James 1987
Opportunity Knocks Lou 1990
Framed Pete 1990
Fly By Night Naji 1993
Not Quite Jerusalem Rothwell T Schwartz 1985
It's No Crush, I'm in Love Robby Pols 1982 and 1983
Dominick and Eugene Larry Higgins 1988
An Innocent Man Robby 1989
The Abyss Alain 'Hippy' Carnes 1989
Sweet Lorraine Leonard 1987
After Midnight Tough Kid unknown
Strange Days Tex Arcana 1995
City of Hope Zip 1991

TV series

Series Character Year
The Nanny Harvey 1997
Chicago Hope Louis Bagley 1995
ABC Afterschool Specials Trent and Robby Pols 1983 and 1992
The Marshall Chronicles Vincent 1990
Vietnam War Story Richard Muldoon 1987
The Electric Company Jesse (seasons 5-6) 1975–1977

Award nominations

TV

Writer

References

  1. ↑ Profile, filmreference.com; accessed August 19, 2014.
  2. ↑ Writer-director Todd Graff talks about his campy new film, Camp, gaylesbiantimes.com; accessed 20 August 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Todd Graff at the Internet Movie Database
  4. ↑ Mark Taper Forum website; accessed August 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Todd Graff.