Produced in the Bi-State: Nathan Lee Graham talks pushing boundaries in the industry, being a Hazelwood Central alum, and Hulu’s ‘Mid-Century Modern’

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - For this edition of Produced in the Bi-State, Taylor Holt speaks with actor, Broadway singer, and St. Louis native Nathan Lee Graham.

He’s best known for his roles in films such as Sweet Home Alabama and Zoolander, but is currently being seen in a brand new light thanks to Hulu’s comedy series, “Mid-Century Modern.”

From Broadway to the silver screen, Graham has been working hard to make himself a household name, and that drive stems from his roots in St. Louis. Living in the area from adolescence to early adulthood, he graduated from Hazelwood Central in the 80’s.

Graham later went on to graduate from Webster University with a BFA in Musical Theater. It’s a journey rooted in tradition for his family, as his mother also graduated from Webster, and his father attended Eden Theological Seminary across the street.

However, the fascination that seems to prevail among the general population in St. Louis, with which high school one attends, is one that Graham doesn’t quite understand.

“Webster Groves holds a lot of special memories for me, and I just love St Louis. It’s such a wonderful place, but the high school thing is very strange to me.”

“It’s contingent upon when you went because demographics change and attitudes change. My mother went to Sumner [high school] in the ’60s, so that was a big deal for her as an African American woman. My dad also went to Sumner. So, I guess I understand the pedigree of it, but it also doesn’t mean anything to me. Though, I do not want to discredit what it means to St. Louisans,” Graham continued.

Speaking of St. Louisans, that’s exactly what Graham is, through and through. He immersed himself in the art scene of the Lou, attending programs at St. Louis University and working at establishments like The Muny, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and Powell Symphony Hall while internationally acclaimed conductor Leonard Slatkin was still there.

It instilled in him a sense of community and pride that has allowed him to persevere as an adult.

“Everything you learn in St. Louis you keep because it’s such a great city that teaches you such great life lessons, and I carry that with me wherever I go,” Graham said. “I’ve lived in New York City most of my life now, and the things that I learned in St Louis, Missouri, have always stuck with me and have made me a better person.”

“St. Louis gave me a great foundation to navigate all things because we’re in the middle. When you’re from the middle of the country, you’re all about balance. You can weather many storms because if you don’t like the weather in St. Louis, wait a minute because it’s going to change. So, you know how to deal with things, and you’re not scared. You know? It is the show me state for a reason,” Graham continued.

Mid-Century Modern follows three gay best friends and their adventures living together after they all experience the death of someone close. With the help of the richest friend’s mother, the trio navigates their golden years side by side.

Being no stranger to comedy, Graham says that one of the main attractions for him to pursue Mid-Century Modern was getting the opportunity to share the screen with a couple of legends, Linda Lavin, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lane.

“We have great writers, great executive producers; the great Jimmy Burrows is our director, the godfather of television. Then, the chance to play a character with no shame and who really loves himself. He looks great, and he wants everybody else to look great. Yes, he can be a little side-eye-ish, and he can give people the business, but that’s because he loves them and wants them to look their best.”

“I was attracted to Arthur for all of those wonderful reasons. And the chance to make people laugh is a big deal. You know, if we can just give people a moment out of their day where they can just enjoy themselves, it’s for everybody. Everybody can laugh,” Graham continued.

It’s incredibly vital for everyone to have the opportunity to see themselves represented on screen in a positive light rather than as a stereotype. That sentiment reigns true for everyone, but especially the LGBTQ+ and POC community now more than ever with the current changing political climate.

That presence is an integral, climate-changing aspect that Graham didn’t think about when accepting the role of Arthur Broussard.

“I thought, ‘Oh, this is a great role. This is a positive character. This will make people feel represented, but it also will make people laugh and make them feel good about themselves.’ And so that’s a big deal to me. But then I realized, oh my god, this kind of character, these kinds of people, don’t even exist on television.”

“It’s like after 25, do you even exist in this world? And particularly as a gay person? So, it was exciting to bring that to the table and just to say, ‘We’re here too. We are quote, unquote, normal human beings, and you can laugh and be with us as well,” Graham continued.

It’s likely there’s never a dull moment on the set of a comedy television series, but for Graham, it was even more exciting because he got to work closely with Matt Bomer, who is a Webster Groves native.

Being a generational force and an individual who has always advocated for equality and LGBTQ+ representation, Graham was recently awarded the Vanguard Award from the Critics Choice Association at their 2nd Annual Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television.

“Vanguard means in the forefront, leading the charge. I kind of love the idea that they consider the roles I’ve played as leading the charge. It’s exciting to have that because, in my army, everyone will be welcome. We all have something to contribute, and that’s how you win the war on whatever.”

“I like to fight wars with joy. You know, you can’t always be down the entire time, even when they’re trying to keep you down. You’ve got to counteract that by being aware of what’s happening but doing it with joy. So, that’s how I operate. My activism is showing up, and so that’s what the Vanguard Award is about. I’m so pleased that the Critics Choice Association has recognized me in that way,” Graham continued.

Make sure to follow First Alert 4 to watch additional episodes of Produced in the Bi-State and learn in-depth behind-the-scenes information about actors and musicians from the Bi-State area.

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