Impressing those casting for the film, who were already in search of a new Jason as then actor Dan Bradley was considered not posing or threatening enough, C. J. Graham landed the role.

He has been known to speak highly of his time as Jason, even claiming that he would reprise the role in another film if asked.

Graham was formerly the COO of the Agua Caliente Casinos in the greater Palm Springs area, California.

With the producers of the film looking to replace Hodder despite being cast in the four most recent movies, citing supposed reasons ranging from his height compared to Robert Englund, the actor who portrayed Freddy Krueger, to simply wanting to try something different, Graham's name was brought up in suggestion.

Graham commonly visits horror conventions and often participants in fan events and signing autographs.