Randy Graff

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Randy Graff
Graff in 2004
Born (1955-05-23) May 23, 1955 (age 70)
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

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

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

  • 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

Broadway
Off-Broadway
Regional

References