Biography
Karron Graves was born in Janesville, Wisconsin, and raised in Sarasota, Florida, and New York City. She competed as a swimmer in Florida, participating twice in the Junior Olympics. In New York City, she attended the Professional Children's School and LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts. She earned an AB from Princeton University and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.
Graves began performing as a child in musical theatre and with The Metropolitan Opera, where she performed for six seasons. Her television debut came in 1986 on "Saturday Night Live" as 'The Girl Scout' opposite Phil Hartman. She starred in the PBS/Wonderworks series "The Fig Tree" (1987) alongside Doris Roberts and Teresa Wright, and gained recognition in Peter Benchley’s CBS prime-time pilot "Dolphin Cove" (1989) as Katie Larson. On stage, she originated the role of Clara in the world premiere of Arthur Miller’s "Danger: Memory!" (1987) at Lincoln Center Theater, directed by Gregory Mosher. She toured internationally with "The Sound of Music" (1988), directed by James Hammerstein and starring Debbie Boone, David Cryer, and Marybeth Piel as Elsa, and played Ginya in Leslie Ayvazian’s "Nine Armenians" (1996) at Manhattan Theatre Club.
In 2000, Graves enrolled at the Yale School of Drama, earning her MFA in 2003. While at Yale, she originated roles including Dora Hand in Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s "The Muckle Man," Lizzie Booth in Trip Cullman’s "Absolutely True," Sara in A. Rey Pamatmat’s "Deviant," and Blanche Verse in Marcus Gardley’s "...and jesus moonwalks on the mississippi...."
Her stage career spans Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theatre. She received professional training with the SITI Company to star in their world premiere of "Intimations for Saxophone" (2005), directed by Anne Bogart at Arena Stage. She appeared opposite James Whitmore in "Trying" (2006) at Ford’s Theatre and reunited with him for the 70th Anniversary of "Our Town" (2008) in Peterborough, New Hampshire, the play’s birthplace. On Broadway, she portrayed Isobel Ashbrook in the Tony-nominated "Coram Boy" (2007), directed by Melly Still. Off-Broadway credits include "The Philanderer" (2012) at New York City Center with the Pearl Theatre Company and the New York Times Critics’ Pick "Two Point Oh" (2013) at 59E59.
Graves is best known for playing Mary Warren in 20th Century Fox’s "The Crucible" (1996), starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Joan Allen, Paul Scofield, and Winona Ryder. The film was adapted by Arthur Miller from his play, directed by Nicholas Hytner, and produced by Robert Miller and David V. Picker. Her other film and television work includes NBC’s "Law & Order," CBS’s "Guiding Light," USA’s "Monk," "The Good Shepherd" (2006), directed by Robert De Niro and starring Matt Damon and Billy Crudup, "5 Wishes" (2008), directed by and co-starring Michael Goorjian, Adrian Garcia Bogliano’s "Late Phases" (2014), and "She Dreams of Fireflies" (announced 2015), written by Monique Rosario.
During the 2015-2016 season at the Roundabout Theatre Company, Graves was set to play Mamie Gummer’s sister in the world premiere of Lindsey Ferrentino’s "Ugly Lies the Bone," directed by Patricia McGregor. Alongside acting, she teaches at NYU and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
Karron has two children with her partner Rolando Briceno, a school leader in the NYC Public School system. She is a lifelong advocate for the special needs community, having both a sibling and a child with Down syndrome. Her father was a civil attorney, and her mother is a retired French professor. She is primarily of Norwegian descent.
