Ilene Graff
{{short description|American actress and singer}}
{{Infobox person
| image = IleneGraffActress.jpg
| name = Ilene Graff
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|2|18}}
| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| known_for = Marsha Cameron Owens in Mr. Belvedere
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|singer}}
| relatives = {{plainlist|
- Todd Graff (brother)
- Randy Graff (cousin)
}}
| yearsactive = 1979–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Ben Lanzarone|1978|2024|end=d}}
| children = Nikka Graff Lanzarone
| website = {{URL|ilenegraff.com}}
}}
Ilene Graff (born February 18, 1949) is an American actress and singer.{{cite web| url = https://www.televisionconfidential.com/radio-stations/coming-soon-to-tv-confidential-singer-actress-ilene-graff-mr-belvedere-on-working-with-vocal-students-of-all-ages-and-backgrounds-in-her-performance-workshops-making-the-song-your-own-being-dire/| title = Coming soon to TV CONFIDENTIAL: Singer/actress Ilene Graff (MR. BELVEDERE) on working with vocal students of all ages and backgrounds in her performance workshops, MAKING THE SONG YOUR OWN; being directed by Penny Marshall in the Dating Game episode of LAVERNE & SHIRLEY; and how being an understudy for the stage is not unlike sitting in the bullpen at Dodger Stadium. To learn more about MAKING THE SONG YOUR OWN, or to sign up for the Spring semester, visit IleneGraff.com {{!}}}}
Early years
Graff was born on February 28, 1949, in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of musician Jerry Graff, and piano teacher Judy Graff.{{cite news |last1=Wyckoff |first1=Mark |title=Broadway reverie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-ilene-graff/169090712/ |access-date=March 29, 2025 |work=Ventura County Star |date=January 2, 2009 |page=44|via = Newspapers.com }} She attended Ithaca College.{{cite news |title=Ilene Graff breaks out of stereotyped role |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/elizabethton-star-ilene-graff/169146799/ |access-date=March 29, 2025 |work=Elizabethton Star |date=July 16, 1985 |page=7|via = Newspapers.com }}
Life and career
Graff's Broadway credits include Promises, Promises, Grease, and I Love My Wife.{{cite web |title=Ilene Graff |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ilene-graff-88014 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=March 29, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213222052/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ilene-graff-88014 |archive-date=December 13, 2019}} On television, Graff portrayed Penny Whitaker on Supertrain.{{cite news |title='If I Weren't An actress, I'd Be A Blimp' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-ilene-graff/169089779/ |access-date=March 29, 2025 |work=Sunday News |date=April 22, 1979 |location=Pennsylvania, Lancaster |page=TV Week - 48|via = Newspapers.com }} Her other television work includes Barnaby Jones, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, Three's Company, Lewis & Clark, and St. Elsewhere. From 1985 until 1990, she played what is possibly her best known role, Marsha Cameron Owens, the wife of Bob Uecker's character, George, in the sitcom Mr. Belvedere.{{cite web| url = https://www.tmz.com/2008/12/02/the-mom-on-mr-belvedere-memba-her/| title = The Mom on "Mr. Belvedere": 'Memba Her?!| date = 3 December 2008}}
In addition to her roles on television, Graff also appeared in the motion picture Ladybugs playing the girlfriend of Rodney Dangerfield and mother of Jonathan Brandis. Her recent screen credits include films The Things We Carry, Ma-i pa-deo, and Loving Annabelle.
Personal life
File:Ilene Graff And Ben Lanzarone 2013.jpg
While performing in Grease Graff met and married composer Ben Lanzarone, and they have one daughter, Nikka, born 1983. Graff is the older sister of Tony Award-nominated actor, film producer, writer, film director and former Short Circus member Todd Graff and cousin of Tony winner Randy Graff.{{cite web| url = http://highlighthollywood.com/2013/11/ilene-randy-and-todd-graff-and-nikka-graff-lanzarone-in-the-graff-family-holiday-special-highlight-hollywood-news/| title = highlighthollywood.com}} She serves as the spokesman for the AMC Cancer Research Center.{{Citation needed |date=April 2024}}
Select filmography
- Hart of Dixie .... Ellen Aim (6 episodes, 2011-2015)
- The Things We Carry (2009) .... Ellen Aim
- My Father (2007) .... Nancy Parker ... aka Ellen Aim (South Korea: DVD title)
- Loving Annabelle (2006) .... Mother Immaculata
- Living with Fran .... Jessica (1 episode, 2006)
- Haunted .... Emily Eastway (1 episode, 2002)
- South Pacific (2001) (TV) .... Singing Ngana ... aka Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific (USA: complete title)
- Touched by an Angel .... Gloria Brewer (1 episode, 1997)
- Abandoned and Deceived (1995) (TV)
- Sisters.... Cynthia (1 episode, 1994)
- Ladybugs (1992) .... Bess
- Walter & Emily .... Dr. Barbara Morris (1 episode, 1992)
- Opposites Attract (1990) (TV) .... Frannie
- Mr. Belvedere .... Marsha Cameron Owens (117 episodes, 1985–1990)
- Jury Duty: The Comedy (1990; TV) .... Marilyn Worth ... aka The Great American Sex Scandal
- New Love, American Style (1 episode, 1986) .... Love at First Sight/Love and the Judge (1986; TV)
- St. Elsewhere .... Heidi Brechman (1 episode, 1985)
- Earthlings (1984) (TV) .... Jane Lassiter
- The Paper Chase.... Carolyn (1 episode, 1983)
- Three's Company .... Daphne Smith (1 episode, 1983)
- Charley's Aunt (1983; TV) .... Kitty Verdun
- Remington Steele.... Ivy Shapiro (1 episode, 1982)
- Madame's Place.... Gloria Beecham Meade (1 episode, 1982)
- Mork & Mindy .... Tracy /Receptionist ... (4 episodes, 1981-1982)
- Lewis & Clark .... Alicia Lewis (3 episodes, 1981)
- Laverne & Shirley .... Monique Dobson (1 episode, 1980)
- Beulah Land (1980; TV mini-series) .... Annabel Davis
- Angie.... Debbie (1 episode, 1980)
- Supertrain .... Penny Whitaker (3 episodes, 1979)
- Barnaby Jones .... Stephanie Capello (2 episodes, 1979)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://ilenegraff.com/ Official website]
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{IMDb name|id=0333778|name=Ilene Graff}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal|Biography|Film|Greater Los Angeles|Canada|Television|Theatre}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graff, Ilene}}
Category:Actresses from Queens, New York
Category:American film actresses
Category:American musical theatre actresses
Category:American stage actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:Ithaca College alumni
Category:Martin Van Buren High School alumni
Category:Musicians from Queens, New York
Category:Singers from New York City
Category:20th-century American actresses