Joining the cast of GRAVES in a supporting role this season is Wallace Shawn, who will portray “Jerry North,” the incumbent democratic senator of New Mexico and Margaret Graves’ opponent in her race for the Senate.  A rumpled suit-wearing klutz and self-righteous liberal, Jerry was one of Graves’ most vehement adversaries during his presidency and now turns his taste for political combat on Margaret.

Wallace Shawn has appeared in many films, including four directed by Louis Malles: “My Dinner with Andre,” “Vanya on 42nd Street,” “Crackers,” and “Atlantic City,” and five directed by Woody Allen: “Manhattan,” “Radio Days,” “Shadows and Fog,” “Curse of the Jade Scorpion,” and “Melinda and Melinda.” He also appeared in Amy Heckerling’s “Clueless” and “Vamps,” Paul Bartel’s “Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills,” Alan Rudolph’s “The Moderns,” Tom Noonan’s “The Wife,” Rob Reiner’s “The Princess Bride,” and Paul Weitz’s “Admission.” His most recent film is “A Master Builder” directed by Jonathan Demme. He is the voice of Rex in “Toy Story,” “Toy Story Two,” and “Toy Story Three,” and he has had recurring roles in the television shows “The Cosby Show,” “Murphy Brown,” “The `L’ Word,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Gossip Girl,” “The Good Wife,” and “Mozart in the Jungle.” On the stage he has appeared in his own plays “The Hotel Play,” “The Fever,” “Aunt Dan and Lemon,” “The Designated Mourner,” “Grasses of a Thousand Colors,” and “Evening at the Talk House.” His plays are published by TCG Books and Grove Press, and his book of essays, called “Essays,” is published by Haymarket Books.