Ilene Graff | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Ilene Susan Graff February 28, 1949 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Ithaca College |
| Years active | 1979– |
| Known for | Marsha Cameron Owens in Mr. Belvedere |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Nikka Graff Lanzarone |
| Website | http://ilenegraff.com |
Ilene Susan Graff (born February 28, 1949) is an American actress and singer.[1]
The Queens, 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 in Queens Village. She graduated from Ithaca College in 1970.
Graff's Broadway credits include Promises, Promises, Grease, and I Love My Wife. Her 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.[2]
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.
Graff is the daughter of Jerry Graff,[3] a member of the musical group The Pied Pipers. 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-nominated actor, film producer, writer, film director and former Short Circus member Todd Graff and cousin of Tony winner Randy Graff.[4] She serves as the spokesman for the AMC Cancer Research Center.
