Gerrit Graham has died at the age of 77, per Variety. He had been suffering from lung disease "among other ailments", per the outlet.
Graham was most well known for his role in cult classic Phantom of the Paradise. He played a glam rocker named Beef. Some of his other beloved cult classic movie appearances came in C.H.U.D 2: Bud the C.H.U.D, and Child's Play 2.
He also appeared in episodes of a number of different shows. These include Seinfeld, Star Trek, The Wonder Years, Laverne and Shirley.
As well as being a beloved actor, Graham was also a well-respected screenwriter. He was involved in iconic projects like The Little Mermaid, Oliver & Company, and The Twilight Zone.
Per the outlet, Graham is survived by his brother, Sam, as well as his sons Jack and Henry. He also has four grandchildren, Nolan, Micah, Vera and Joey.
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The 'Phantom of the Paradise' Star Recalled a Fond Memory
In an interview with The Five Count, Gerrit Graham recalled a hilarious moment during the production of Phantom of the Paradise.
"The scene, uh, the rehearsal scene in which I trip and fall and have a tough time getting up... we had to shoot that I think nine times," he recalled. He's referring to the iconic scene where Beef is "silenced" with a plunger.
"By this time, my belly was so red from falling on it that I had to have makeup put on it between takes," he explained. "The water kept getting colder and colder and colder so every take, every time I stepped into it, Brian eventually said, 'what's the problem, are you sick or something?'"
"I said, 'no, the water's just a little cold'. At that point the entire crew burst out laughing, and I thought it was funny too so I laughed along with them. And it's a lucky thing I did because at that point, you know, they sort of embraced me as their buddy, their 'pet actor', or what have you."
He also recalled how the crew loved him so much that they even gave him a momento. "Over Christmas, they gave me the plunger that the Phantom sticks me with in the shower. They gave me that as a present, they decorated it with shellac, put a bow on it with a note. It said 'To Beef; may you plunge your way to stardom.'"
May he rest in peace.
