Ilene Susan Graff (born February 28, 1949) is an American

actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek ...

and singer.

Life and career

The

Queens Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long ...

, New York native began her professional career as a teenager when she performed as a background singer and commercial actress while attending

Martin Van Buren High School Martin Van Buren High School (MVBHS) is a public high school in Queens Village, New York. The school is operated by the New York City Department of Education. Academics The high school is accredited by the New York State Board of Regents.

Queens Village Queens Village is a mostly residential middle class neighborhood in the eastern part of the New York City borough of Queens. It is bound by Hollis to the west, Cambria Heights to the south, Bellerose to the east, and Oakland Gardens to the north ...

. She graduated from

Ithaca College Ithaca College is a private college in Ithaca, New York. It was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music and is set against the backdrop of the city of Ithaca (which is separate from the town), Cayuga Lake, waterfalls, and go ...

in 1970. Graff's

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

credits include '' Promises, Promises'', '' Grease'', and ''

I Love My Wife ''I Love My Wife'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, based on a play by Luis Rego. A satire of the sexual revolution of the 1970s, the musical takes place on Christmas Eve in suburban Trenton, ...

''. Her television work includes ''

Barnaby Jones ''Barnaby Jones'' is an American detective television series starring Buddy Ebsen as a formerly retired investigator and Lee Meriwether as his widowed daughter-in-law, who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles, California. The show was or ...

'', ''

Laverne & Shirley ''Laverne & Shirley'' (originally ''Laverne DeFazio & Shirley Feeney'') is an American sitcom television series that played for eight seasons on ABC from January 27, 1976, to May 10, 1983. A spin-off of ''Happy Days'', ''Laverne & Shirley'' star ...

'', ''

Mork & Mindy ''Mork & Mindy'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 14, 1978, to May 27, 1982. A spin-off after a highly successful episode of ''Happy Days'', "My Favorite Orkan", it starred Robin Williams as Mork, an extraterrest ...

'', ''

Three's Company ''Three's Company'' is an American sitcom television series that aired for eight seasons on ABC from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984. It is based on the British sitcom ''Man About the House''. The story revolves around three single roomma ...

'', '' Lewis & Clark'', and '' St. Elsewhere''. From 1985 until 1990, she played what is possibly her best known role, Marsha Owens, the wife of

Bob Uecker Robert George Uecker ( ; born January 26, 1934) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and current sportscaster, comedian, and actor. Facetiously dubbed "Mr. Baseball" by TV talk show host Johnny Carson, Uecker has served as a ...

's character, George, in the sitcom ''

Mr. Belvedere ''Mr. Belvedere'' is an American sitcom that originally aired on ABC from March 15, 1985, to July 8, 1990. The series is based on the Lynn Aloysius Belvedere character created by Gwen Davenport for her 1947 novel ''Belvedere'', which was later ...

''. In addition to her roles on television, Graff also appeared in the motion picture ''

Ladybugs Coccinellidae () is a widespread family of small beetles ranging in size from . They are commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in Great Britain. Some entomologists prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as they ...

'' playing the girlfriend of Rodney Dangerfield and mother of

Jonathan Brandis Jonathan Gregory Brandis (April 13, 1976 – November 12, 2003) was an American actor. Beginning his career as a child model, Brandis moved on to acting in commercials and subsequently won television and film roles. Brandis made his acting debut ...

. Her recent screen credits include films ''The Things We Carry,'' ''Ma-i pa-deo,'' and ''

Loving Annabelle ''Loving Annabelle'' is a 2006 American romantic drama film written and directed by Katherine Brooks. Inspired by ''Mädchen in Uniform'', it tells the story of a boarding school student who falls in love with her teacher. Plot Annabelle Tillma ...

''.

Personal life

Graff is the daughter of Jerry Graff, a member of the musical group

The Pied Pipers The Pied Pipers is an American popular singing group originally formed in the late 1930s. They had several chart hits through the 1940s, both under their own name and in association with Tommy Dorsey and with Frank Sinatra. Origins Originally ...

. While performing in ''Grease'' she met and married composer Ben Lanzarone, and they have one daughter, Nikka, born 1983. Graff is the older sister of

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

-nominated actor, film producer, writer, film director and former Short Circus member

Todd Graff Todd Graff (born October 22, 1959) is an American actor, writer and director, best known for his 2003 independent film ''Camp'' and his role as Alan "Hippy" Carnes in the 1989 science fiction film ''The Abyss''. Early life Graff was born in New ...

and cousin of Tony winner

Randy Graff Randy Lynn Graff (born May 23, 1955) is an American actress and singer. Career Graff was born in Brooklyn, New York City and is a graduate of Wagner College. She is a cousin of actors Todd Graff and Ilene Graff. Graff has been in feature films ...

. She serves as the spokesman for the AMC Cancer Research Center.

Select filmography

* ''

Hart of Dixie ''Hart of Dixie'' is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on The CW from September 26, 2011, to March 27, 2015. The series, created by Leila Gerstein, stars Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart, a New Yorker who, after her dreams of ...

'' .... Ellen Aim (6 episodes, 2011-2015) * ''The Things We Carry'' (2009) .... Ellen Aim * ''

My Father ''My Father'' () is a 2007 South Korean film. The film, which is based on a true story, is about an adopted son who is searching for his biological parents in South Korea. During his search he meets his real father, a condemned murderer on death r ...

'' (2007) .... Nancy Parker ... aka Ellen Aim (South Korea: DVD title) * ''

'' (2006) .... Mother Immaculata * ''

Living with Fran ''Living with Fran'' is an American television sitcom that aired on The WB. It starred Fran Drescher and Ryan McPartlin, and was co-created by Jamie Kennedy. The series debuted on April 8, 2005, and ran two seasons before ending on March 24, 2006 ...

'' .... 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 ''Touched by an Angel'' is an American fantasy drama television series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994, and ran for 211 episodes over nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and executive produced ...

'' .... Gloria Brewer (1 episode, 1997) * ''

Abandoned and Deceived ''Abandoned and Deceived'' is a 1995 American drama film written and directed by Joseph Dougherty. The film stars Lori Loughlin, Brian Kerwin, Farrah Forke, Eric Lloyd, Bibi Besch and Rosemary Forsyth. The film premiered on ABC on March 20, 19 ...

'' (1995) (TV) * ''

Sisters A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to ...

''.... Cynthia (1 episode, 1994) * ''

'' (1992) .... Bess * ''

Walter & Emily ''Walter & Emily'' is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from November 16, 1991 to February 22, 1992. The series was created by Paul Perlove, and produced by Witt/Thomas Productions in association with Touchstone Television. Plot Retired salesm ...

'' .... Dr. Barbara Morris (1 episode, 1992) * ''

Opposites Attract "Opposites Attract" is a song by American singer Paula Abdul from her debut album, ''Forever Your Girl'' (1988). It was written and produced by Oliver Leiber. Vocals on the song, in addition to Abdul, were provided by Bruce DeShazer and Marv Gun ...

'' (1990) (TV) .... Frannie * ''

'' .... 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) * ''

'' .... Daphne Smith (1 episode, 1983) * ''

Charley's Aunt ''Charley's Aunt'' is a farce in three acts written by Brandon Thomas. The story centres on Lord Fancourt Babberley, an undergraduate whose friends Jack and Charley persuade him to impersonate the latter's aunt. The complications of the plot inc ...

'' (1983; TV) .... Kitty Verdun * ''

Remington Steele ''Remington Steele'' is an American television series co-created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason. The series, starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, was produced by MTM Enterprises and first broadcast on the NBC network from Oc ...

''.... Ivy Shapiro (1 episode, 1982) * ''Madame's Place''.... Gloria Beecham Meade (1 episode, 1982) * ''

'' .... Tracy /Receptionist ... (4 episodes, 1981-1982) * '' Lewis & Clark'' .... Alicia Lewis (3 episodes, 1981) * ''

'' .... Monique Dobson (1 episode, 1980) * '' Beulah Land'' (1980; TV mini-series) .... Annabel Davis * '' Angie''.... Debbie (1 episode, 1980) * ''Supertrain'' .... Penny Whitaker (3 episodes, 1979) * ''

'' .... Stephanie Capello (2 episodes, 1979)

References

External links

Official website
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Graff, Ilene 1949 births Living people Actresses from New York City American film actresses American musical theatre actresses American stage actresses American television actresses Ithaca College alumni Martin Van Buren High School alumni People from Queens, New York Singers from New York City 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses