Editing David Graf

{{Short description|American actor (1950–2001)}}
{{for-multi|the German boxer|David Graf (boxer)|the Swiss BMX rider|David Graf (BMX rider)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = David Graf
| image              = David Graf in Stockholm (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Graf in June 1989
| birth_name         = Paul David Graf
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1950|4|16|mf=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Zanesville, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|2001|4|7|1950|4|16|mf=y}}
| death_place        = [[Phoenix, Arizona]], U.S.
| resting_place      = Forest Rose Cemetery
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1981–2001
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Kathryn Graf]]|1983<!--As marriage ended with his death, year is omitted per Template:Marriage instructions--->}}
| children           = 2
}}

'''Paul David Graf''' (April 16, 1950 – April 7, 2001) was an American actor, best known for his role as [[Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry]] in the ''[[Police Academy (franchise)|Police Academy]]'' series of films.<ref name="death">{{cite news| title=David Graf; Played Many Film, TV Roles| newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]| date=April 11, 2001| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-apr-11-me-49651-story.html| access-date=January 10, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/policeacademy4citizensonpatrolpg13harrington_a0aa37.htm|title=‘Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol’ (PG-13)|author=Harrington, Richard.|date=1987-04-07|work=Movies|format=HTML|publisher=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=2012-04-03|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305093934/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/policeacademy4citizensonpatrolpg13harrington_a0aa37.htm|archivedate=2016-03-05|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Graf was born in [[Zanesville, Ohio]], and later moved to [[Lancaster, Ohio]], and graduated from [[Lancaster High School (Ohio)|Lancaster High School]]. He studied [[theatre]] at [[Otterbein College]] in [[Westerville, Ohio|Westerville]], a suburb of [[Columbus, Ohio]], where he graduated in 1972. He attended [[graduate school]] at [[Ohio State University]] until 1975, when he dropped out to pursue his acting career.

== Acting career ==
Graf made his first television appearance as a contestant on the [[game show]] ''[[Pyramid (game show)|The $20,000 Pyramid]]'' in December 1979, where he teamed with actress [[Patty Duke]]. He would later appear on subsequent versions of the show as a celebrity contestant, twice with Duke. As a struggling actor in the early 1980s, he also took small roles in popular TV shows, including ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'', ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]]'', ''[[Airwolf]]'', ''[[Hardcastle and McCormick]]'' and ''[[The A-Team]]''.

He made his film debut in 1981 when he played Gergley in the drama ''[[Four Friends (1981 film)|Four Friends]]''. Graf later played the trigger-happy Eugene Tackleberry in the 1984 comedy ''[[Police Academy (film)|Police Academy]]'', and starred in each of the sequels. In 1986, Graf had a role as Councilman Harlan Nash on the short-lived sitcom ''[[He's the Mayor]]''. In 1990, Graf appeared in the final two episodes of the series [[Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series)|Beauty and the Beast]]. In 1992, Graf returned to play a minor role as a police officer again for the comedy series ''[[Seinfeld]]'' during its fourth-season episode "[[The Ticket (Seinfeld)|The Ticket]]" and also appeared on ''[[Night Court]]''. He played Tackleberry for the final time in a guest appearance on the short-lived ''[[Police Academy: The Series]]''. Also in November 1992, Graf appeared on ''[[Family Matters]]'' where he played Sgt. Shiska.

Graf made various guest appearances following his role in the ''Police Academy'' series, including a recurring role in ''[[The West Wing]]'', several appearances in ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' episode ("[[The 37s]]") and ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''. In the latter series, he played a [[Klingon]] called [[Leskit]] in the fifth-season episode "[[Soldiers of the Empire (DS9 episode)|Soldiers of the Empire]]".

Graf was Lt. Weismann in the movie ''[[Suture (film)|Suture]]'' in 1993 and Ralph Brinker in the [[Disney Channel]] movie ''[[Brink!]]'' in 1998.

Graf made a guest appearance in an episode of the short-lived ABC sitcom ''[[Teen Angel (1997 TV series)|Teen Angel]]'' as a camp leader for Steve Beauchamp's little sister Katie, in the 1997–1998 season. In 2000, he made an appearance on ''[[The Amanda Show]]'' as a paramedic who accidentally swapped pagers with [[Amanda Bynes]]. He also made an appearance on ''[[Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]'' season 2 episode 20 as a reporter for the Daily Planet.

Graf had a small role in 1995's ''[[The Brady Bunch Movie]]'', portraying Alice's boyfriend Sam Franklin, the butcher. In 1996, Graf made a guest appearance in ''[[Promised Land (1996 TV series)|Promised Land]]'', which was a spinoff of ''[[Touched by an Angel]]''. He played the role of a grieving husband whose wife died while working for a company and he went there trying to find answers to her death.

Graf guest starred in several episodes of ABC's sitcom ''[[Step By Step (TV series)|Step By Step]]'' in the 1990s. He also starred in the second episode of the third season of ABC's ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'' as angler Chuck Norwood. Some of his last acting performances were two guest appearances as [[The Pentagon]] staff member Colonel Chase in the series ''[[The West Wing]]'' ("[[The West Wing season 2|The Drop-In]]" and "[[The Portland Trip]]") and as Jacques Douche in the ''[[Son of the Beach]]'' TV series episode "Grand Prix". Graf's last acting role was the [[Nickelodeon]] sitcom  ''[[The Amanda Show]]'', just three months before his death.

==Screen Actors Guild==
Besides his acting, Graf was a representative of the [[Screen Actors Guild]]. As well as serving as a Hollywood union rep, he was on SAG's national board, TV-theatrical steering committee, and national disciplinary review committee. Graf sought fair treatment for his fellow actors and actresses, which included efforts for better working conditions for the acting community.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/2001/scene/people-news/david-graf-1117796778/| title=David Graf| first=Dave| last=McNary| date=April 10, 2001| magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Graf married [[Kathryn Graf]] in 1983.<ref name=var>{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/2004/legit/markets-festivals/surviving-david-1200531390/| title=Surviving David| first= Julio  | last=Martinez| date=September 1, 2004| magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| access-date=September 1, 2004}}</ref> They had two sons.<ref name=backs>{{cite news| url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/surviving-david-44587/| title=Surviving David| date=November 5, 2019| magazine=[[Backstage (magazine)|Backstage]]| access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref>

==Death==
While attending his brother-in-law's wedding in [[Phoenix, Arizona]], on April 7, 2001, Graf died from a sudden [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] at the age of 50.<ref name=var/> Graf is buried at Forest Rose Cemetery in [[Lancaster, Ohio]].<ref name="death"/>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|1981|| ''[[Four Friends (1981 film)|Four Friends]]'' || Gergley ||
|-
|1981|| ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]]'' || Maury || Season 3, Ep. 22 ''The Canterbury Crock''
|-
|1982|| ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'' || Lt. Spears || Season 10, Ep. 14 "A Holy Mess"
|-
|1983
|''[[Voyagers!|Voyagers]]''
|Sgt. Mike
|Season 1, Ep. 14 "Sneak Attack"
|-
|1983
|''[[The A-Team]]''
|Cooper
|Season 2, Ep. 4 "Bad Time on the Border" 
|-
|1984|| ''[[Police Academy (film)|Police Academy]]'' || Cadet Eugene Tackleberry ||
|-
|1984|| ''[[Irreconcilable Differences]]'' || Bink ||
|-
|1984|| ''[[Airwolf]]'' || Billie || Season 2, Ep. 1 "Sweet Britches"
|-
|1985|| ''[[Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment]]'' || rowspan="3"|Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry ||
|-
|1986|| ''[[Police Academy 3: Back in Training]]'' ||
|-
|1987|| ''[[Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol]]'' ||
|-
|1987|| ''[[Love at Stake]]'' || Nathaniel ||
|-
|1987|| ''[[Night Court]]'' || Horace "Hondo" Jenkins || Season 5, episode 6 "Mac's Dilemma"
|-
|1988|| ''[[Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach]]'' || rowspan="2"|Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry ||
|-
|1989|| ''[[Police Academy 6: City Under Siege]]'' ||
|-
|1990|| ''Elvis '' || [[Bob Neal (promoter)]] || 4 episodes
|-
|1991|| ''Without a Pass'' || White Officer - 1990 ||
|-
|1991
|''[[Quantum Leap (1989 TV series)|Quantum Leap]]''
|Sheriff Nolan
|Season 3, Ep 16 "Southern Comforts"
|-
|1992|| ''[[Family Matters]]'' || Sergeant Shishka || 1 episode
|-
|1992|| ''[[Seinfeld]]'' || Cop #2 || 1 episode
|-
|1993|| ''[[American Kickboxer 2]]'' || Howard ||
|-
|1993|| ''[[Suture (film)|Suture]]'' || Lt. Weismann ||
|-
|1993|| ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'' || Chuck Norwood || Season 3 Ep.2 ''Aisle See You in My Dreams''
|-
|1994|| ''[[Guarding Tess]]'' || Lee Danielson ||
|-
|1994|| ''[[Police Academy: Mission to Moscow]]'' || Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry ||
|-
|1994|| ''Roseanne: An Unauthorized Biography'' || [[Tom Arnold (actor)|Tom Arnold]] || TV movie
|-
|1995|| ''[[Fist of Legend]]'' || || English version, Voice
|-
|1995|| ''Dragon Kid'' || || Voice
|-
|1995|| ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' || [[Fred Noonan]] || "[[The '37s]]"<ref name="1996 Gross & Altman: CL Supplemental">{{cite book |last1=Gross |first1=Edward |last2=Altman |first2=Mark A. |author-link2=Mark A. Altman |year=1996 |chapter=''Voyager'': Season Two Episode Guide |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/captainslogssupp0000gros/page/153 |chapter-url-access=registration |title=Captains' Logs Supplemental: The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages |url=https://archive.org/details/captainslogssupp0000gros |url-access=registration |language=en |location=[[London]] |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |page=154 |isbn=978-0-3163-2920-0}}</ref>
|-
|1995|| ''[[The Brady Bunch Movie]]'' || Sam Franklin ||
|-
|1996|| ''Hijacked: Flight 285'' || Alcoholic ||
|-
|1996|| ''[[Citizen Ruth]]'' || Judge Richter ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0333701/|title=David Graf|website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>
|-
|1996||''[[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]'' || Officer Hayes ||
|-
|1997|| Step by Step || Dave || Season 6, Ep. 4 “Just Say Maybe”
|-
|1997|| ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' || [[Leskit]] || Season 5, Ep. 21 "Soldiers of the Empire"
|-
|1998||  ''[[Brink!]]'' || Ralph Brinker ||
|-
|1999||  ''[[Touched by an Angel]]'' || Dewey Burton ||  Season 5, Ep. 18 "Anatomy Lesson"
|-
|1999
|[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]
|John Newman
|Season 4, Ep. 18 “Shakedown”
|-
|2000|| ''[[Rules of Engagement (film)|Rules of Engagement]]'' || ARG Commander ||
|-
|2000|| ''The Cactus Kid'' || Charles ||
|-
|2000||  ''[[Arli$$]]'' || Col. Sadowski ||
|-
|2000||  ''[[Becker (TV series)|Becker]]'' || Lloyd Martin || Season 2, Ep. 21 "Sight Unseen"
|-
|2000||  ''[[Diagnosis Murder]]'' || John || Season 7, Ep. 21 "Swan Song"
|-
|2000-2001||  ''[[The West Wing]]'' || Colonel Chase || "[[The West Wing season 2|The Drop-In]]" and "[[The Portland Trip]]"
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography|Ohio|Film|Television}}
* {{IMDb name|333701}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030610105909/http://entertainment.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?mp=b&c=100993 MSN Entertainment: Biography of David Graf]
* [https://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hc&id=1800090876&cf=biog&intl=us Yahoo! Movies: David Graf]
{{Memory Alpha}}
* {{Find a Grave|21836}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Graf, David}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Contestants on American game shows]]
[[Category:Male actors from Ohio]]
[[Category:Ohio State University alumni]]
[[Category:Otterbein University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Lancaster, Ohio]]
[[Category:People from Zanesville, Ohio]]