Graham appeared on both DS9 and Voyager during his prolific career.
Star Trek guest actor Gerrit Graham passed away at the age of 77 on Tuesday, Sept. 15, in Rhinebeck, New York, which is 100 miles north of his place of birth in The Big Apple. While Variety wrote, “He suffered from lung disease, among other ailments,” the long-standing trade publication didn’t list an exact cause of death.
Most Trekkies and Trekkers will remember Graham for portraying the rebellious foil to John de Lancie’s Q, as yet another member of the Continuum in Star Trek: Voyager’s season 2 episode, “Death Wish.” Unlike other Q, though, who showed up in various Treks over the years, like Corbin Bernsen in The Next Generation or fan-favorite actress Suzie Plakson in Voyager, Graham’s version of Q memorably had a name: Quinn.
However, three years before Graham endeared himself to Star Trek fans in Voyager as Quinn with a Q, the veteran actor portrayed The Hunter in the Deep Space Nine season 1 episode, “Captive Pursuit.” In fact, DS9 had only been on the air for a month, at that point, which makes Graham one of The Next Generation spinoff’s first guest stars.
Graham’s most prolific work came as a voice actor on the Matt Frewer-led Pink Panther animated series, which ran from 1993 through 1996. And I know most publications are focusing on his portrayal of Beef in Phantom of the Paradise (1974), but who can forget his enormous contributions to The Critic as Jay’s (Jon Lovitz) father, Franklin?
For my money, though, Quinn is still my favorite of Graham's rolee, as a lifelong Trekkie. However, outside of Star Trek, I’ll never forget Graham’s CLOWN barking, “You people make me sick,” at Jerry Seinfeld and Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyus) in “The Opera,” to which the comedian quips toward his friend, as the guest character walks away, “That is one angry clown.”
The Redshirts Always Die and FanSided teams are saddened to hear of Mr. Graham’s death, and we would like to pass on our condolences to those closest to him, including his family and friends. According to Variety, “Graham is survived by his brother, Sam; his sons, Jack and Henry, and their wives, Talia and Joelle; and his four grandchildren, Nolan, Micah, Vera and Joey.”
For more Star Trek content, and to remember Graham’s contributions to the sci-fi franchise, please visit the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.
Rest in peace, Mr. Graham.
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