What Is Heather Graham's Net Worth and Salary?
Heather Graham is an American actress, director, screenwriter, and producer who has a net worth of $20 million. Heather Graham is most widely recognized for her roles in such films as "Boogie Nights," "The Hangover," "Anger Management," and "Drugstore Cowboy." She has also appeared on various television shows, including "Growing Pains," "Fantasy Island," "Arrested Development," and "The Outer Limits."
Her journey in the entertainment industry began in the 1980s when she appeared in numerous television commercials. This was followed by minor roles in TV series and films. It was not long before Heather's talent shone brightly enough to garner significant attention.
Heather's breakthrough moment came in the late 1980s with her role in the film "License to Drive," but it was her performance as Mercedes Lane in "Drugstore Cowboy" that earned her critical acclaim and truly put her on the cinematic map. However, it was her portrayal of Rollergirl in "Boogie Nights" in 1997 that significantly escalated her status in Hollywood, bringing forth various accolades and critical acclaim for her gripping performance.
The 2000s saw Graham becoming a familiar face in popular culture, as she effortlessly blended into various roles, spanning across genres from comedies to dramas to thrillers. Heather showcased her comedic chops in the cult classic "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," in which she played the character of Felicity Shagwell, an undercover CIA agent. Her performance was vibrant, and the film was a significant box-office success.
A notable aspect of Heather's career has been her ability to inhabit roles that are both deep and whimsically entertaining, such as her memorable performances in "The Hangover" and the critically acclaimed TV series "Scrubs," wherein she played Dr. Molly Clock. Heather's roles often possess a nuanced depth, balancing both drama and comedic elements seamlessly.
Beyond acting, Heather has also explored the realm of writing and directing, showcasing her multifaceted talent within the entertainment industry. Her 2018 film, "Half Magic," which she wrote, directed, and starred in, explores themes of female empowerment and sexuality with a comedic lens, further solidifying her status as a multifaceted powerhouse in Hollywood. Graham also wrote, directed, and starred in the 2024 film "Chosen Family."
Early Life
Heather Graham was born Heather Joan Graham on January 29, 1970, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her family is of Irish descent, with her father's side from County Cork. Her mother, Joan, is a teacher and children's book author, and her father, James, is a retired FBI agent. Heather's younger sister, Aimee Graham, is also an actress as well as a writer. The family, after relocating repeatedly, moved to Agoura Hills, California, when Heather was 9 years old. She was first introduced to acting when she participated in a school production of "The Wizard of Oz." In high school, she received straight As, then she enrolled in classes at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied English for two years before dropping out to pursue acting full-time.
Early Career
Having starred in various commercials, Graham's first appearance in a film was an uncredited cameo in "Mrs. Soffel" in 1984. She then appeared in more commercials and in an episode of the sitcom "Growing Pains" in 1987. Graham saw her first high-profile starring role in 1988 with the teen comedy "License to Drive," in which she starred opposite Corey Haim and Corey Feldman as popular girl Mercedes Lane. Her performance earned her a Young Artist Award nomination in the Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy category. She was offered a role in the cult classic black comedy "Heathers" in 1988, but her strict parents forbade her to accept it. The same year, she appeared in "Twins" starring Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Success
It was in 1989 that Heather made her breakout, starring in Gus Van Sant's critically acclaimed 1989 crime drama "Drugstore Cowboy." Her performance boosted her career and earned her an Independent Spirit Award nod for Best Supporting Actress. She then rejected a steady soap opera role and a three-picture movie deal with a major studio, thinking it would be too restrictive. Graham then appeared in "I Love You to Death" in 1990 and "Shout" in 1991, for which she was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Actress Starring in a Motion Picture. After she starred in a Calvin Klein commercial directed by David Lynch, he cast Heather as Annie Blackburn in "Twin Peaks," where she appeared in the final six episodes. After "Twin Peaks" was canceled, Graham reprised her role in the 1992 prequel film "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me." Later that year, she appeared in "Diggstown" alongside James Woods. She then appeared in "Six Degrees of Separation," "The Ballad of Little Jo," and "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues," where she reunited with director Gus Van Sant. In 1996, Graham played the small but crucial role of Lorraine, Jon Favreau's love interest in "Swingers."
Graham became a household name when she played an adult film star in the 1997 critically acclaimed film "Boogie Nights." The cast was nominated for the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. She also starred in "Nowhere" that year and had a cameo in the horror hit "Scream 2." Heather starred next as Felicity Shagwell in the sequel "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," which was a box office smash. Shagwell became one of her most well-known roles and a fan favorite. It also earned her a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Actress. Later in 1999, she appeared in the music video of Lenny Kravitz's cover of "American Woman" and starred opposite Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy in "Bowfinger." The 2000 film "Committed" was her first true starring role, playing Joline, a devoted young wife looking for the husband who left her.
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Her other appearances in mainstream films include "From Hell," "Anger Management," "Say It Isn't So," "The Guru," and "Hope Springs." From 2004 to 2008, Graham concentrated on independent films which received negative or mixed reviews and went largely unnoticed at the box office. Her 2005 film "Mary" was her most well-reviewed performance since "Bowfinger." In 2006, she starred in "Bobby" and guest-starred on shows like "Sex and the City," "Scrubs," and "Arrested Development."
In 2009, Graham returned to mainstream entertainment when she played the role of Jade in "The Hangover," which was an enormous box office and critical success. She reprised her role in 2013's "The Hangover Part III." Her roles in these movies were followed by unsuccessful films such as "Father of Invention," "5 Days of War," "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer," and "About Cherry." In 2014, Graham starred in the adaptation of the V.C. Andrews novel "Flowers in the Attic" on the Lifetime network, playing the role of Corrine Dollanganger, a severely disturbed mother who locks her four children in an attic in order to receive an inheritance from her dying father. She continued her role in the two TV movie sequels "Petals on the Wind" and "If There Be Thorns." Heather then appeared in the final season of "Californication," playing the mother of David Duchovny's long-lost son. In 2018, she co-starred alongside Stephen Mangan in David Cross's dark comedy series "Bliss," set in Bristol, England.
(Photo by Michael Tullberg/FilmMagic)
Personal Life
Away from the screen, the blue-eyed beauty made the papers for her rumored relationships with singer Adam Ant and several high-profile actors, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Edward Burns, and Heath Ledger. From 2011 to 2018, she was in a relationship with screenwriter Yaniv Raz.
In the past, Heather had been estranged from her parents due to their strict Irish Catholic beliefs and her choice to take on roles such as in "Boogie Nights." She has been practicing transcendental meditation since 1991 after being introduced to it by David Lynch.
Real Estate
In 1998, a year after her star-turning role in "Boogie Nights," Heather paid $880,000 for a home in LA's Beachwood Canyon neighborhood. She listed this home for sale in September 2019 for $2.85 million. She ultimately sold it in September 2020 for $2.45 million.
In New York City, she owns a penthouse loft in a Greenwich Village building. In 2013, Heather was sued by a downstairs neighbor after a fire that started in her unit upstairs reportedly caused damage a year earlier. Apparently, candles caught some clothes on fire near a bathtub.
In September 2023, Heather paid $3.7 million for a home in LA's Brentwood neighborhood.
