Todd Graff
Todd Graff (born October 22, 1959) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for writing and directing the musical comedy films Camp (2003), for which he was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, Bandslam (2009), and Joyful Noise (2012). Graff is also known for his supporting roles in the science fiction films The Abyss (1989) and Strange Days (1995), as well as the black comedy crime film Death to Smoochy (2002).
Todd Graff

Patroim123 · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Todd Graff
- Born
- 22 October 1959
- Birthplace
- New York, New York, United States
- Occupation
- Actor, filmmaker
- Nationality
- United States
- Education
- State University of New York at Purchase · Professional Children's School
- Honours
- Theatre World Award
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Todd Graff (born October 22, 1959) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for writing and directing the musical comedy films Camp (2003), for which he was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, Bandslam (2009), and Joyful Noise (2012). Graff is also known for his supporting roles in the science fiction films The Abyss (1989) and Strange Days (1995), as well as the black comedy crime film Death to Smoochy (2002).
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Todd Graff. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q1606898 · wikipedia · Todd Graff
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Todd Graff • Born — 22 October 1959 • Birthplace — New York, New York, United States • Occupation — Actor, filmmaker • Relatives — * Ilene Graff (sister) • Randy Graff (cousin) • Years Active — 1970–present
Early life
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. His sister is actress Ilene Graff.
Career
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). 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. 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. In 2009, he co-wrote and directed the film Bandslam. In 2012 he wrote and directed the film Joyful Noise. He developed Apple TV's miniseries The Crowded Room (2023).
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1975–1977 — The Electric Company — Jesse — Main role (seasons 5–6) • 1983–1992 — ABC Afterschool Specials — Trent / Robby Pols — Episodes: "It's No Crush, I'm in Love", "Summer Stories: The Mall – Part 3" • 1995 — Chicago Hope — Louis Bagley — Episode: "Growth Pains" • 1997 — The Nanny — Harvey — Episode: "Danny's Dead and Who's Got the Will?"
TV
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)
Identity
Identity
Todd Graff is recorded as having studied at State University of New York at Purchase and Professional Children's School.
Writer/Director
• Used People (1992; writer only) • Fly by Night (1993 film) (1993; writer only) • The Vanishing (1993; writer only) • Angie (1994; writer only) • The Beautician and the Beast (1997; writer only) • Camp (2003; director) • Bandslam (2009; director) • Joyful Noise (2012; director)
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1985 — Not Quite Paradise — Rothwell T. Schwartz — Also known as Not Quite Jerusalem • 1987 — Five Corners — James • 1987 — Sweet Lorraine — Leonard • 1988 — Dominick and Eugene — Larry Higgins • 1989 — After Midnight — Tough Kid • 1989 — An Innocent Man — Robby • 1989 — The Abyss — Alan "Hippy" Carnes • 1990 — Framed — Pete • 1990 — Opportunity Knocks — Lou Pesquino • 1991 — City of Hope — Zip • 1995 — Strange Days — "Tex" Arcana • 1997 — The Beautician and the Beast — Denny — Also writer • 2002 — Death to Smoochy — Skip Kleinman
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Todd Graff”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1606898: Todd Graff
General reference · Wikidata
Award nominations
• 1984 Tony Award nominee as Featured Actor in a Musical for Baby • 1984 Won Theatre World Award for Baby (musical) • 2003 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize nominee for Camp
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,408 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Todd EdwardsPerson
- Todd FieldPerson
- Todd FisherPerson
- Todd GlassPerson
- Todd HaynesPerson
- Todd HollandPerson
- Todd KarnsPerson
- Todd KesslerPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Todd Graff?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.