David Graf Biography

(Best Known for His Role as ‘Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry’ in the ‘Police Academy’ Film Series)

Birthday: April 16, 1950 (Aries)

Born In: Zanesville, Ohio, United States

David Graf was an American actor best remembered for his role as Sergeant Eugene Tackleberry in the ‘Police Academy’ movie series that premiered in 1984 and ran till 1994. Born in Ohio, he studied theatre at Otterbein College after graduating from high school. He then attended The Ohio State University from where he dropped out to pursue acting. Graf made his film debut with a role in the 1981 comedy-drama ‘Four Friends’ and then went on to play a number of other film roles. Despite becoming a star at one point, he never forgot his roots and visited his native place Lancaster every year for the Fairfield County Fair. The actor married actress Kathryn Graf and raised two sons with her. Just before his 51st birthday, he died of a heart attack in April 2001 during a family wedding event in Phoenix, Arizona. Graf was survived by his wife of seventeen years, his sons, brother, and mother who reside in Zanesville, Ohio.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Paul David Graf

Died At Age: 50

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Kathryn Graf (m. 1983–2001)

father: Paul Frederick Graf

mother: Angela Bernadine Abels Graf-Axline

Actors American Men

Height: 6'1" (185 cm), 6'1" Males

Died on: April 7, 2001

place of death: Phoenix, Arizona, United States

U.S. State: Ohio

Notable Alumni: Otterbein College

Cause of Death: Heart Attack

More Facts

education: Ohio State University, Otterbein College

Career
David Graf made his first appearance on television as a participant in a game show titled ‘The $20,000 Pyramid’ in 1979. During the early 1980s, he had minor roles in a number of TV programs including ‘The Dukes of Hazzard,’ ‘Hardcastle and McCormick,’ ‘M*A*S*H,’ ‘Airwolf,’ and ‘The A-Team.’
The actor made his film debut in the year 1981 when he was cast in the role of Gergley in the comedy-drama flick ‘Four Friends’. Three year later, he played Eugene Tackleberry in Hugh Wilson’s ‘Police Academy’, a comedy film also starring Steve Guttenberg, G.W. Bailey and Kim Cattrall. Graf later reprised his role of Tackleberry in each of the movie’s sequels till 1994.
In 1986, David Graf featured in the short-lived drama ‘He's the Mayor’ as Councilman Harlan Nash. In the 1990s, he had guest appearances in a number of episodes of ABC’s ‘Step By Step’. In 1992 and 1993, he featured in one episode each of ‘Family Matters’ and ‘Home Improvement,’ respectively. Soon after this, the actor had appearances in ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ and ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’. He played a minor role in the comedy film ‘The Brady Bunch Movie’ in which he portrayed Sam Franklin, the butcher. After appearing in the Disney Channel film ‘Brink!’ in 1998, he featured in the war flick ‘Rules of Engagement’ in 2000. His last acting role was in Nickelodeon’s ‘The Amanda Show’, just three months prior to his untimely death.
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Family & Personal Life
David Graf was born on April 16, 1950, in Zanesville, Ohio, USA. He studied at Lancaster High School and later enrolled at Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio. He studied theatre and graduated in 1972. From 1972 to 1975, he attended graduate school at The Ohio State University and ultimately dropped out from there to pursue his acting career.
In 1983, Graf married Kathryn Graf, an actress. They couple had two sons: Sean and Daniel. On April 7, 2001, he suffered a heart attack during a family event in Arizona. He died just nine days before his 51st birthday, at the same age his father died.

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Article Title
- David Graf Biography
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URL
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