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.
\n\nGraham 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.”
\n\nHe 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.”
\n\nAs 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…
Original source: https://variety.com/