Judy Graubart
Encyclopedia
Esther Judith "Judy" Graubart (born October 1943 in Fort Worth, Texas
) is an American actress and comedienne. She is best remembered for being a regular cast member of The Electric Company, the revolutionary children's show from the 1970s produced by the Children's Television Workshop
. Like the other cast members, who included Morgan Freeman
, Rita Moreno
, and Bill Cosby
, she played hundreds of characters on the show during its 6-year run (1971–1977), Jennifer of the Jungle being a standout. Prior to The Electric Company, Graubart was in The Second City
comedy troupe, appearing in the Chicago mainstage cast in the mid- to late 1960s. She was also a regular on Comedy Tonight, which aired during the summer of 1970 on CBS
, along with Peter Boyle
, Robert Klein
, and Madeline Kahn
.
After her run with The Electric Company, she appeared in several little-known films during the early 1980s, including Marshall Brickman
's Simon
and Author! Author!
which starred Al Pacino
. She reunited with Madeline Kahn for the 1999 film Judy Berlin
, which was completed shortly before Kahn's death.
Throughout her career, Graubart had also been a familiar face in television commercials for products such as the Chevrolet Vega
, Cheer
, Crunch 'n Munch
, Shake 'n Bake, and Miracle Whip
.
Graubart appeared, as did many other of the original cast members of The Electric Company, in interviews and episode introductions on the second volume of The Best of the Electric Company DVD
boxed set that was released by Shout! Factory
and Sony BMG Music Entertainment
on November 14, 2006.
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
) is an American actress and comedienne. She is best remembered for being a regular cast member of The Electric Company, the revolutionary children's show from the 1970s produced by the Children's Television Workshop
Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop , is a Worldwide American non-profit organization behind the production of several educational children's programs that have run on public broadcasting around the world...
. Like the other cast members, who included Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
, Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno is a Puerto Rican singer, dancer and actress. She is the only Hispanic and one of the few performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony, and was the second Puerto Rican to win an Academy Award....
, and Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
, she played hundreds of characters on the show during its 6-year run (1971–1977), Jennifer of the Jungle being a standout. Prior to The Electric Company, Graubart was in The Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
comedy troupe, appearing in the Chicago mainstage cast in the mid- to late 1960s. She was also a regular on Comedy Tonight, which aired during the summer of 1970 on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, along with Peter Boyle
Peter Boyle
Peter Lawrence Boyle, Jr. was an American actor, best known for his role as Frank Barone on the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, and as a comical monster in Mel Brooks' film spoof Young Frankenstein ....
, Robert Klein
Robert Klein
Robert Klein is an American stand-up comedian, singer and actor.-Early life:Klein was born in the Bronx, the son of Frieda and Benjamin Klein, and was raised in a "prototypical 1950s Bronx Jewish" environment. After graduating from DeWitt Clinton High School, Klein planned to study medicine...
, and Madeline Kahn
Madeline Kahn
Madeline Kahn was an American actress. Kahn was known primarily for her comedic roles in films such as Paper Moon, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, What's Up, Doc?, and Clue.-Early life:...
.
After her run with The Electric Company, she appeared in several little-known films during the early 1980s, including Marshall Brickman
Marshall Brickman
Marshall Brickman is a screenwriter, best known for his collaborations with Woody Allen. He is also known for playing the banjo with Eric Weissberg in the 1960s, and for a series of comical parodies published in The New Yorker.-Biography:After attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he...
's Simon
Simon (1980 film)
Simon is a 1980 American comedy film. It was directed by Marshall Brickman and stars Alan Arkin.- Plot summary :The Institute for Advanced Concepts, a group of scientists with an unlimited budget and a propensity for elaborate pranks, brainwash a psychology professor named Simon Mendelssohn who was...
and Author! Author!
Author! Author!
Author! Author! may refer to:In literature:* Author! Author! , autobiographical work by P. G. Wodehouse first published in 1953* Author! Author! , 1943 short story by Isaac Asimov...
which starred Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
. She reunited with Madeline Kahn for the 1999 film Judy Berlin
Judy Berlin
Judy Berlin is a 1999 American drama film directed by Eric Mendelsohn. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival.Mendelsohn won the directing prize for Judy Berlin at the 1999 Sundance International Film Festival...
, which was completed shortly before Kahn's death.
Throughout her career, Graubart had also been a familiar face in television commercials for products such as the Chevrolet Vega
Chevrolet Vega
The Chevrolet Vega is a subcompact, two-door automobile that was produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors for the 1971-1977 model years. Named after the star Vega, the car was powered by a lightweight aluminum-block inline four-cylinder engine...
, Cheer
Cheer (detergent)
Cheer is the name of a laundry detergent sold in the United States and Canada. It is manufactured by Procter & Gamble.It was introduced sometime around 1951, and after a slight reformulation in 1952, was a highly successful follow up to P&G's Tide product from 1948-49.Cheer is recognized for its...
, Crunch 'n Munch
Crunch 'n Munch
Crunch 'n Munch is a brand of ConAgra Foods consisting of caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts. Crunch 'n Munch currently comes in its original form of Buttery Toffee as well as the added varieties of Caramel, Chocolate & Caramel, and Almond Supreme.-History:...
, Shake 'n Bake, and Miracle Whip
Miracle Whip
Miracle Whip is a white salad dressing and sandwich spread manufactured by Kraft Foods, sold throughout the United States and Canada. It is often used as an alternative to mayonnaise in recipes, although it is sweeter and has additional ingredients.-History:...
.
Graubart appeared, as did many other of the original cast members of The Electric Company, in interviews and episode introductions on the second volume of The Best of the Electric Company DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
boxed set that was released by Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory is an entertainment company founded in 2003 that was started by Richard Foos , Bob Emmer and Garson Foos initially as a specialty music label...
and Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Sony BMG Music Entertainment was a recorded music company, which was a 50–50 joint venture between the Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann AG...
on November 14, 2006.