Todd Graff

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.

Todd Graff
Keke Palmer and Todd Graff
Born (1959-10-22) October 22, 1959
Queens, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor, writer, director
Years active1970–present
Spouse(s)Jhon Lafaurie (2014–present)

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
It's No Crush, I'm in LoveRobby Pols1982 and 1983
P.O.P.Johnny Gordon1984
Not Quite JerusalemRothwell T Schwartz1985
Sweet LorraineLeonard1987
Five CornersJames1987
Dominick and EugeneLarry Higgins1988
An Innocent ManRobby1989
The AbyssAlan 'Hippy' Carnes1989
After MidnightTough Kid1989
Opportunity KnocksLou Pesquino1990
FramedPete1990
City of HopeZip1991
Fly By NightNaji1993
Strange DaysTex Arcana1995

TV series
Series Character Year
The Electric CompanyJesse (seasons 5-6)1975–1977
ABC Afterschool SpecialsTrent and Robby Pols1983 and 1992
Vietnam War StoryRichard Muldoon1987
The Marshall ChroniclesVincent1990
Chicago HopeLouis Bagley1995
The NannyHarvey1997

Award nominations

TV
  • Made in Hollywood: Teen Edition (2012)
  • Made in Hollywood (2011)
  • Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History – 1980s, 1990s and 2000s (2009)
  • Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History – 1970's (2009)
  • Under Pressure: Making 'The Abyss (1993)

Writer/Director

References
  1. Profile, filmreference.com; accessed August 19, 2014.
  2. Counts, Kyle (August 7, 2003). "Writer-director Todd Graff talks about his campy new film, 'Camp'". Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2014.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. Todd Graff at IMDb
  4. Mark Taper Forum website; accessed August 2014.
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