Katerina Alexandre Hartford Graham (born September 5, 1989)[3][4] is an American actress, singer and dancer (now distributing music under the stage name Toro Gato).[5][6] She is widely known for her role as Bonnie Bennett on The CW supernatural drama series The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017).[7][8][9] Her film credits include The Parent Trap (1998), 17 Again (2009), The Roommate (2011), Honey 2 (2011), Addicted (2014), and All Eyez on Me (2017). In music, Graham was previously signed to A&M/Octone and Interscope Records, and has released two extended plays and two studio albums.
Kat Graham | |
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![]() Graham at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards | |
Born | Katerina Alexandre Hartford Graham (1989-09-05) September 5, 1989 (age 33) Geneva, Switzerland |
Nationality | American |
Occupation |
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Years active | 1998–present |
Known for | Playing Bonnie Bennett on The Vampire Diaries |
Partner | Cottrell Guidry (2008–2014) |
Musical career | |
Also known as | Toro Gato[1][2] |
Genres |
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Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1998–present |
Labels |
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Musical artist | |
Website | www.KatGraham.com |
Graham was born in Geneva, Switzerland, but raised in Los Angeles, California, U.S. Her father, Joseph, is of Americo-Liberian descent, and her mother, Natasha, is Jewish (from a family from Poland and Russia).[10][11][12] Graham's father was a music executive and the godfather of two of producer Quincy Jones' children. Her paternal grandfather was a UN Ambassador, serving for 40 years in four countries such as The Netherlands, Sweden, Romania and Kenya.[13] Her maternal and paternal grandparents were refugees, from the Holocaust and Liberia, respectively.[14]
Her parents divorced when she was 5 years old.[15] She has a half-brother, Yakov, born in Tel Aviv, Israel.[13] Graham was raised in her mother's Jewish religion[16] and attended a Hebrew school.[17][18]
Graham began her career in the entertainment industry at age 6.[3] Within the following eight years, she appeared in numerous television commercials, including advertisements for Barbie, Edison, K-Mart, and Pop-Tarts. At age 15, Graham caught the eye of choreographer Fatima Robinson, and was asked to perform at the BET Awards as a background dancer for Bow Wow. Graham followed her BET Awards appearance with work as a background dancer for Missy Elliott, Pharrell Williams, Jamie Foxx, and choreographers Hi-Hat and Michael Rooney.[19] At age 17, Graham participated in a national marketing campaign to advertise Coca-Cola's soda brand Fanta. Graham appeared in the marketing campaign as a member of the "Fantanas", known as Capri, also known as Strawberry.[20][21] Graham has appeared in various music videos, including Akon's "Lonely", Christina Milian's "Dip It Low", Justin Bieber and Usher's "Somebody to Love (Remix)", 112's "What If", John Legend's "Used to Love U", B2K's "Why I Love You", Musiq Soulchild's "B.U.D.D.Y.", Nelly's "Just A Dream" and Diddy – Dirty Money with Usher's "Looking for Love".[22][23]
In 1998, Graham made her film debut as a child star on the remake version of The Parent Trap alongside Lindsay Lohan. Graham plays the role of Jackie, a Camp Walden camper. In 2002, Graham made her television debut on the Disney Channel teen comedy series Lizzie McGuire. Graham went on to appear on various television series, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The O.C., Malcolm in the Middle, Joan of Arcadia, Grounded For Life, and Greek. In 2008, she appeared in the musical comedy series Hannah Montana playing the role of a girlfriend to Jason Earles's character Jackson Stewart as a guest appearance for three episodes. Graham has also had well-known supporting roles in films such as 17 Again and The Roommate.[24][25]
In December 2008, Graham began filming sci-fi/dance film Boogie Town in Los Angeles. Filming on the film was put on hold that same month due to payroll issues with background performers. In April 2009, principal photography was stopped due to schedule conflicts with some of her co-stars and other projects. The film is set in a futuristic New York City in 2015 where dance battles are permanently banned. Graham plays the role of Ingrid. The film was set to be released in theaters worldwide October 2011, however it was set to be originally released in June 2009.
In March 2009, Graham was cast in The CW supernatural drama series The Vampire Diaries based on the book series of the same name. Graham plays the role of Bonnie Bennett, a young witch, which is considered her breakout role. The series premiered on September 10, 2009, to 4.91 million viewers and received praise for the series progression from critics. In May 2012, the series was renewed for the show's fourth season. She took over as the female lead in 2015 after the Canadian actress Nina Dobrev departed for the seventh season. In 2011, Graham won "Choice TV Female Scene Stealer" at the Teen Choice Awards for her role on the show.[26]
In August 2010, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Graham was cast in the Universal Pictures dance drama film Honey 2. The film is a sequel to the 2003 film Honey. The film follows a troubled girl and aspiring dancer who joins a dance crew. The film was released theatrically in selected countries for a limited release and went on to make over US$8 million worldwide. In June 2011, the film was released direct-to-DVD in North America to negative reviews from critics though Graham's performance and dancing was praised. Also that year, Graham starred in another dance-oriented film, Dance Fu in which she appeared as the female lead.[27]
In 2017, she played actress Jada Pinkett Smith in the Tupac biopic All Eyez On Me.[28]
Graham starred in the Netflix romantic comedy films The Holiday Calendar (2018),[29] Operation Christmas Drop (2020),[30] and Love in the Villa (2022).[31]
In 2022, Graham competed in season eight of The Masked Singer as "Robo-Girl". After besting Mario Cantone as "Maize" and Gloria Gaynor as "Mermaid" on "Andrew Lloyd Webber Night", she was eliminated on "Muppet Night" alongside Jerry Springer as "Beetle".
In 2002, she wrote a song titled "Derailed", which was featured in the Jean-Claude Van Damme film of the same title.[32] In 2006, Graham pursued a career as a musical artist. Graham found her break in 2007 when she was featured on "The Donque Song" and "I Got It From My Mama" on singer/rapper will.i.am's third studio album Songs About Girls.[33] The move saw Graham embark on a world tour with The Black Eyed Peas as a supporting act for the Black Blue & You Tour. In April 2010, the song "My Boyfriends Back" released on YouTube and got over 1 million views. In October 2010, Graham released her debut single "Sassy". A music video for the song premiered that same month, but the track performed poorly and it failed to chart.[34][35] She then went on to release covers of artists such as Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul which garnered Graham the attention of Paula who praised her cover.[36][37] Graham contributed a cover of the Garbage song "Only Happy When It Rains" to The Vampire Diaries soundtrack. The song premiered in December 2010 in an episode of the series titled "The Sacrifice".[38] In March 2011, Graham released another single titled "I Want It All". The music video released in May 2011.
In February 2012, Graham signed a recording contract with A&M/Octone Records which was marked as her first major label signing. In March 2012, Graham released "Put Your Graffiti On Me". The song itself received positive reviews from critics. In the same month, the official music video premiered and as of October 19, 2012 has reached 4,843,458 views on YouTube. The song peaked at #5 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[39] On May 29, Graham performed the track on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. This was marked as her first televised musical performance ever. On that same day Graham released her first EP Against The Wall which debuted at #54 on the iTunes Music Album Chart.[40] Graham is currently[when?] in the process of recording her debut album. The second single taken from her debut EP is the track "Wanna Say". The music video was directed by Benny Boom and produced by London Alley.[41] She also appeared on the song "Dog Day Afternoon" from the Ras Kass & Doc Hollywood free collaborative digital album Spit No Evil. On June 25, 2013, Graham gave the opportunity to five fans to release the name of her new single on Twitter, and released the single premiere of "Power" at Billboard.com the next day. "Power" is said to be the lead single from her debut album, which currently does not have a release date.[42] As stated on Billboard.com, Graham also released a new single titled "1991" on March 10, 2015.[43]
Graham cites the late rapper Tupac Shakur,[44] Destiny's Child, The Beatles,[45][46] Janet Jackson, M.I.A., Gwen Stefani, Spice Girls, Madonna, Grace Jones, and the late Prince[4][46] as musical influences. She describes her sound as "vintage 90's with a modern twist."[47]
Due to her multilingual upbringing, Graham speaks English, French, and Spanish, as well as some Hebrew and Portuguese.[17]
Graham began dating Cottrell Guidry in 2008; they became engaged in October 2012. By December 2014, they had ended their relationship.[48]
Graham has been a vegan since 2012, having previously been vegetarian.[49]
Since 2017, Graham has resided in Atlanta, Georgia, having previously lived in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.[50][51][52]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | The Parent Trap | Jackie | |
2004 | Johnson Family Vacation | Dancer | |
2009 | 17 Again | Jamie | |
2011 | The Roommate | Kim Johnson | |
2011 | Honey 2 | Maria Bennett | |
2011 | Dance Fu | Chaka Lovebell | Direct-to-video |
2012 | Boogie Town | Ingrid | |
2014 | Addicted | Diamond | |
2015 | Muse | Muse | Short film[53] |
2017 | All Eyez on Me | Jada Pinkett | |
2017 | Where's the Money | Alicia | |
2018 | How It Ends | Samantha | |
2018 | The Holiday Calendar | Abby Sutton | |
2019 | The Poison Rose | Rose | |
2020 | Cut Throat City | Demyra | |
2020 | Emperor | Delores | |
2020 | Operation Christmas Drop | Erica Miller | |
2022 | Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie | April O'Neil | Main voice role |
2022 | Heatwave | Claire Valens | |
2022 | Love in the Villa | Julie Hutton |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Lizzie McGuire | Posse Member #2 | Episode: "You're a Good Man, Lizzie McGuire" |
2003 | Strong Medicine | Ashley Collins | Episode: "Degeneration" |
2003 | Malcolm in the Middle | Val | Episode: "Watching the Baby" |
2004 | Joan of Arcadia | Angela | Episode: "No Bad Guy" |
2004 | Like Family | Girl | Episode: "Romancing the Home" |
2004 | Grounded for Life | Laura | Episode: "Psycho Therapy" |
2006 | The O.C. | Kim | Episode: "The Undertow" |
2006 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Tisha | Episode: "Poppin' Tags" |
2007 | Greek | Dancer | Episode: "The Rusty Nail" |
2007 | Hell on Earth | Felicia | Television film |
2008–2009 | Hannah Montana | Allison | 3 episodes |
2008 | Our First Christmas | Bernie | Television film |
2009–2017 | The Vampire Diaries | Bonnie Bennett | Main role |
2012 | Ridiculousness | Herself | Episode #2.12 |
2012 | Oh Sit! | Herself | Episode #1.10 |
2013 | Hell's Kitchen | Herself | Episode: "Winner Chosen" |
2013 | The Show with Vinny | Herself | Episode #1.7 |
2014 | Whose Line Is It Anyway? | Herself | Episode #10.1 |
2015 | Stalker | Christine Harper | Episode: "Love Kills" |
2018–2020 | Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | April O'Neil | Main voice role[54] |
2019 | Drop the Mic | Herself | Episode: "Kat Graham vs. Shameik Moore / Nikki Glaser vs. Brad Williams" |
2020 | Fashionably Yours | Lauren | Television film |
2020–present | Trolls: TrollsTopia | Rhythm & Blues | Main voice role |
2021 | Nickelodeon's Unfiltered | Herself | Episode: "Otter Docs & Polka Dots" |
2022 | The Masked Singer | Robogirl | Episode: "Muppets Night" |
Title | Year |
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Roxbury Drive[55] |
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Love Music Funk Magic |
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Toro Gato: Part II (Deluxe Edition) (as Toro Gato)[56] |
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Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
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US Heat | ||
Remixes |
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— |
Against the Wall |
|
4 |
TORO GATO: PART I (as Toro Gato)[2] |
|
— |
TORO GATO: PART II (as Toro Gato)[57] |
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— |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
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US | US Dance | UK Pop Club | |||
"I Want It All" | 2010 | — | — | — | Non-album singles |
"Sassy" | — | — | — | ||
"Cold Hearted Snake" | — | — | — | ||
"Put Your Graffiti on Me" | 2012 | — | 5 | — | Against the Wall |
"Wanna Say" | — | 25 | — | ||
"Power" | 2013 | — | — | — | Non-album single |
"1991" | 2015 | — | — | — | Roxbury Drive |
"Secrets" (featuring Babyface) |
— | — | — | ||
"All Your Love" | 2016 | — | — | — | Love Music Funk Magic |
"Sometimes" | 2017 | — | 4[58] | 6[59] | |
"If Eye Could Get UR Attention"[60] | 2018 | — | — | 2[61] | |
"SWIM"[62] (as Toro Gato) |
2021 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TORO GATO: PART I |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | UK | |||
"I Got It from My Mama" (will.i.am featuring uncredited vocals by Kat Graham) |
2007 | 31 | 38 | Songs About Girls |
"One More Chance" (will.i.am featuring uncredited vocals by Kat Graham) |
— | 97 | ||
"The Donque Song" (will.i.am featuring Snoop Dogg and uncredited vocals by Kat Graham) |
— | — | ||
"Dog Day Afternoon" (Ras Kass with Doc Hollywood featuring Kat Graham and Dirt Nasty) |
2012 | — | — | Spit No Evil |
Title | Year | Director(s) |
---|---|---|
"Boom Kat"[63] | 2009 | Adam Forstadt |
"My Boyfriend's Back"[64] | Kevin Boston | |
"I Want It All"[65] | 2010 | Lance Drake |
"Sassy"[66] | Adam Forstadt and Paul Hogan | |
"Cold Hearted Snake"[67] | Kevin Boston | |
"Love Will Do Without An Escapade"[68] | 2011 | Bille Woodruff |
"Heartkiller" (Lyric Video)[69] | 2012 | Roi Hernandez |
"Put Your Graffiti on Me"[70] | Benny Boom | |
"Wanna Say"[71] | 2013 | |
"Power" (Lyric Video)[72] | Kat Graham | |
"Power"[73] | Byron Atienza | |
"1991"[74] | 2015 | Dano Cerny |
"1991" (Cities at Night Remix Version)[75] | Laurence Shanet and Morgan Miller | |
"Secrets"[76] | Darren Genet | |
"Star F*cker"[77] | 2016 | Roi Hernandez by Electric Giant Limited |
"All Your Love"[78] | Darren Genet | |
"Sometimes"[79] | 2017 | Marc Cleary and Oskar Rodriguez |
"Magic"[80] | Dennis Leupold | |
"Time = $"[81] | 2018 | Marc Cleary and Oskar Rodriguez |
"Baby"[82] | ||
"Off"[83] | ||
"Just Luv Me"[84] | ||
"Glory"[85] | Marc Cleary | |
"Dia De Los Muertos"[86] | ||
"SWIM"[87] | 2021 | Darren Genet ASC |
"White Flag"[88] | 2022 | |
Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Director(s) |
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"Slacker" | 2002 | Tech N9ne | Ben Mor |
"Why I Love You" | B2K | Erik White | |
"Wanna B Where U R (ThisIzzaLuvSong)" | 2003 | Floetry featuring Mos Def | Nzingha Stewart |
"No L.O.V.E." | Jhené Aiko | None | |
"Salt Shaker" | Ying Yang Twins featuring Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz | Nzingha Stewart | |
"The Way I Am" | Knoc-Turn'al featuring Snoop Dogg | Gil Green[89] | |
"Used to Love U" | 2004 | John Legend | Ben Mor |
"Lonely" | 2005 | Akon | Gil Green |
"What If" | 112 | Fat Cats | |
"What You Want (When U Want It)" | 2006 | The Frontline | Rock Jacobs |
"B.U.D.D.Y." | 2007 | Musiq Soulchild | Sanaa Hamri |
"One More Chance" | 2008 | will.i.am | Scott Speer |
"Siempre Ausente" | AKWID | Sam Ketay and Zosimo Maximo | |
"Somebody to Love (Remix)"[90] | 2010 | Justin Bieber featuring Usher | Dave Meyers |
"Just a Dream"[91] | Nelly | Sanji | |
"Looking for Love" | 2011 | Diddy & Dirty Money featuring Usher | Colin Tilley |
"Broken Down" | Kevin Hammond | Tim Nackashi | |
"Black and Jewish (Black and Yellow Parody)"[92] | Kali Hawk and Kat Graham | James Davis and Rachel Goldenberg | |
"Really Don't Care"[93] | 2014 | Demi Lovato featuring Cher Lloyd | Ryan Pallotta |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
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2010 | Teen Choice Awards | Scene Stealer Female | The Vampire Diaries | Nominated |
2011 | Teen Choice Awards | The Vampire Diaries | Won | |
Youth Rock Awards | Rockin' Actress (TV) | The Vampire Diaries | Nominated | |
2012 | Teen Choice Awards | Actress Fantasy/Sci-Fi | The Vampire Diaries | Nominated |
2013 | Teen Choice Awards | The Vampire Diaries | Nominated | |
2014 | Teen Choice Awards | The Vampire Diaries | Nominated | |
Black Women in Film Association | Creative Award[94] | Contributions in the industry | Won | |
2015 | MTV Fandom Awards | MTV Ship of The Year (with Ian Somerhalder) | The Vampire Diaries | Nominated |
2015 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Chemistry (with Ian Somerhalder) | The Vampire Diaries | Nominated |
2015 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Scene Stealer | The Vampire Diaries | Nominated |
2016 | Teen Choice Awards | Actress Fantasy/Sci-Fi | The Vampire Diaries | Nominated |
2016 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Chemistry (with Ian Somerhalder) | The Vampire Diaries | Nominated |
2017 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress | The Vampire Diaries | Won |
2019 | Westfield Film Festival | Humanitarian award[95] | Work with refugees, animals and human rights activism | Won |
2020 | PETA: 40th Anniversary and Holiday Party | Humanitarian Award[96] | Animal activism | Won |
Teen Choice Award for Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress | |
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General | |
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National libraries | |
Other |
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