Cult film actor who wrote with Grateful Dead dies at 77

Entertainment‘Dallas’, ‘Child’s Play 2’ actor who co-wrote Grateful Dead song dies at 77Gerrit Graham, a veteran character actor who co-wrote a Grateful Dead song with Bob Weir, has died at age 77.Manuel Breva Colmeiro | Getty ImagesGerrit Graham, who built a decades-long career playing memorable characters in cult films and contributed songwriting to the Grateful Dead, died Tuesday at an assisted living facility in Rhinebeck, New York. He was 77.The cause was complications from lung disease, according to his ex-wife, Dede Taylor, who spoke to the Hollywood Reporter.Graham carved out a distinctive niche in Hollywood as a character actor, appearing in films that ranged from horror to comedy, the outlet noted. He portrayed the glam rock star Beef in the 1974 cult classic “Phantom of the Paradise” and played a scheming salesman in Robert Zemeckis’ “Used Cars.” Other film credits included roles in “Child’s Play 2,” “Pretty Baby,” “Demon Seed,” “Cannonball!” and “This Boy’s Life.”The actor forged a long collaboration with director Brian De Palma that began with his screen debut in “Greetings” in 1968. The two had worked together at Columbia University, where Graham served as a manager for the school’s theater company.Graham also made his mark in music. After meeting Bob Weir in the 1970s, he co-wrote “Victim or the Crime” for the Grateful Dead’s final studio album, “Built to Last,” according to Deadline. Graham wrote the song’s opening line, “Patience runs out on the junkie.”Television audiences knew Graham from his recurring role on “Dallas” as Carter McKay’s right-hand man and as the voice of Franklin Sherman on the animated series “The Critic.” He made guest appearances on “Seinfeld,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” “Law & Order” and “The Wonder Years.”As a writer, Graham contributed to the screenplays for Disney’s “Oliver & Company” and “The Little Mermaid” and wrote for the 1980s reboot of “The Twilight Zone,” the Hollywood Reporter.Born Nov. 27, 1948, in New York, Graham grew up in St. Louis, Chicago and Michigan before attending Columbia University.He is survived by his sons, Jack and Henry, and four grandchildren.Megan Sims is a viral reporter for cleveland.com and a Cleveland native. She covers topics ranging from celebrity news, national business news, social media and more. Previously, Megan covered various lifestyle...This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by Cleveland.com staff.