Todd Graff
About
Biography
Biography
The multi-talented Todd Graff began his career as a child performer, voicing the character of Choo Choo Charlie in TV commercials for Good 'N' Plenty candy. He went on to appear as a regular Short Circus on the award-winning PBS educational series "The Electric Company" from 1975-77 before attending college. As an adult, Graff first made his mark on stage coupled with Liz Callaway in the musical "Baby" (1983), for which he netted a Tony Award nomination. Onscreen, he has performed mid-size roles in several features, including "Five Corners" (1987), as Jodie Foster's handicapped boyfriend, "Dominick and Eugene" (1988), as a garbageman co-worker of Tom Hulce, and James Cameron's "The Abyss" (1989), as a paranoid crewman. He scripted "Used People" (1992), adapted from his play "The Grandma Plays" (1989), as well as co-produced and wrote the Geena Davis vehicle, "Angie" (1994), a film resembling his previous effort in its use of sweet-natured--though some critics have charged condescending--ethnic stereotypes and themes of familial strife. These works incorporated Graff's theater origins in their reliance on community-based plots and limited shooting locations.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1968
Voiced character of Choo Choo Charlie in TV commercials for Good 'N' Plenty
1975
Appeared regularly as one of the Short Circuits on the PBS series "The Electric Company"
1979
Stage debut, "The City Suite"
1983
Off-Broadway debut, "American Passion"
1983
Broadway debut, "Baby"; received Tony nomination as Featured Actor in a Musical
1984
Film acting debut, "Not Quite Jerusalem"
1987
Played major supporting role in "Five Corners"
1988
Debut as a playwright with "The Grandma Plays"
1991
First screenplay, "Fly By Night"; developed at the Sundance Institute; film released in 1993
1992
First produced screenplay, "Used People"
1993
Co-produced and wrote the screenplay for the Hollywood remake of "The Vanishing"
1995
Landed featured role in "Strange Days"
2009
Directed the musical-romantic comedy "Bandslam"; played a teacher in the film
2012
Wrote and directed the musical comedy "Joyful Noise," starring Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah
Family
