Randy Graff

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Randy Graff
Graff in 2004
Born (1955-05-23) May 23, 1955 (age 69)
New York City, U.S.
Alma materWagner College
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
AwardsTony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
WebsiteRandygraff.com

Randy Graff (born May 23, 1955) is an American actress and singer.

Early years

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Born in Brooklyn, New York on May 23, 1955,[1] Graff was part of a musically oriented family. Her grandmother "was the lead soprano in temple", and her uncle sang with, and arranged for, vocal groups of the swing era.[2] She graduated from Port Richmond High School and Wagner College.[3]

Career

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Graff's professional debut occurred at the Village Dinner Theater[4] in Raleigh, North Carolina,[2] in 1976.[4] She has been in feature films such as Keys to Tulsa and Rent as well as being in television shows such as NBC's Law & Order a number of times. In addition to film and television, Graff has been in several Broadway shows.

In 1990 Graff won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for her work in City of Angels,[5] and in 2001 she was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in A Class Act.[6]

She originated the role of Fantine in the musical Les Misérables when the production opened on Broadway in 1987, which included "I Dreamed a Dream", also on the soundtrack released in 1990.[7]

According to Graff, she was the first person to sing "I Dreamed a Dream" in the U.S., which is not entirely true. Patti LuPone sang it on The Joan Rivers Show shortly before the show opened in New York.[8] She has also appeared in Broadway revivals of the musicals Damn Yankees and Fiddler on the Roof.

Graff teaches at the Manhattan School of Music.[9]

Filmography

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  • Working It Out: "Pilot" (1990) TV Episode – Andy #1
  • Law & Order
    • "Sonata for Solo Organ" (1991) TV Episode – Dr. Martha Kershan
    • "Attorney Client" (2002) TV Episode – Hillary Morton
    • "Publish and Perish" (2005) TV Episode – Helen DeVries
  • Drexell's Class (1991) TV Series – Principal Francine E. Itkin
  • Mad About You: "Bedfellows" (1993) TV Episode – Sharon, Paul's older sister
  • Bless This House: "Pilot" (1995) TV Episode – Marion
  • Keys to Tulsa (1997) – Louise Brinkman
  • Ed: "The Stars Align" (2001) TV Episode – Attorney
  • Rent (2005) - Mrs. Cohen
  • Learning to Drive (2014) – Attorney

Theatre

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Broadway
Off-Broadway
Regional

References

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  1. ^ Benjamin, Ruth (2006). Who Sang What on Broadway, 1866-1996. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 307. ISBN 0-7864-2189-4. "3735. Randy Graff (May 23, 1955- ) B: Brooklyn, NY. Les Miserables (Broadway, “Fantine,” Mar. 12, 1987)"
  2. ^ a b Morrison, Bill (June 3, 1990). "From Raleigh to the Great White Way". The News and Observer. North Carolina, Raleigh. pp. H 1, H 5. Retrieved March 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Seaberg, Maureen (December 17, 1995). "Living the actors' nightmare". Staten Island Advance. p. E 1. Retrieved March 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Morrison, Bill (October 13, 1993). "They come to praise Caesar". The News and Observer. North Carolina, Raleigh. p. D 1. Retrieved March 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Seaberg, Maureen (December 10, 1993). "Randy Graff is settling in on the '23rd Floor'". Staten Island Advance. p. C 3. Retrieved March 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "The Nominees for Best New Musical". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). New York, Melville. June 3, 2001. p. D 12. Retrieved March 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ Ferri, Josh (February 4, 2014). "The Game Changer! Tony Winner Randy Graff Looks Back on Being Broadway's First Fantine". BroadwayBox.
  9. ^ Gans, Andrew (April 23, 2020). "Checking in With… Tony Winner Randy Graff, Star of Les Misérables, City of Angels, More". Playbill.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  10. ^ [2]
  11. ^ Rich, Frank."Theater: 'My Name Is Alice,' At American Place", The New York Times, February 27, 1984
  12. ^ Gans, Andrew."Sixth Sondheim Starts: A Little Night Music Begins Perfs. in D.C. Aug. 2", Playbill.com, August 2, 2002.
  13. ^ Gans, Andrew."L.A. Elegies — with Randy Graff, Liz Callaway and Malcolm Gets — Offered Sept. 11", Playbill.com, September 11, 2006
  14. ^ Gans, Andrew."Well, Hello, Randy: Tony Winner Graff Begins Dolly! Run at the Muny July 9", Playbill.com, July 9, 2007
  15. ^ Gans, Andrew.Graff, Ashmanskas, Brescia, Osnes, von Essen Explore Broadway: Three Generations Oct. 2-5", Playbill.com, October 2, 2008
  16. ^ [3]
  17. ^ Hetrick, Adam.Graff and Kellerman Added to Motherhood Out Loud at Bay Street", Playbill.com, July 27, 2009
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