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Paul Alan Trafas (September 6, 1949, Detroit, Michigan -- December 2, 2012, Long Beach, California)1 was an American actor and community activist best known to Ghostbusters fans for his role as Ted Fleming in Ghostbusters (1984).2 Away from the screen he was a Long Beach civic figure involved in environmental advocacy and political campaign work.1
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Trafas was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Halene and Peter C. Trafas, M.D.1 The family relocated to Long Beach, California, in the early 1950s, where he attended Tincher Elementary, Hill Junior High, and Wilson High School.1
He went on to play college football at UCLA, earning all-CIF honors as a defensive tackle.1 He subsequently pursued graduate studies in Public Administration at the University of Montana, and during the Vietnam War era he served in the Marine Corps Reserve.1
Trafas worked as an actor in the late 1970s and early 1980s, picking up television credits that included an episode of the NBC cop drama The Renegades (1983)2 and an appearance on CHiPs, the long-running California Highway Patrol series.1 His most widely seen role came with his part in Ghostbusters (1984).
Outside of acting, Trafas was active in political campaign work and in environmental causes. He was affiliated with the California League of Conservation Voters and was a member of the Sierra Club.1 He remained a prominent presence in the Long Beach community throughout his life, with personal interests including surfing, backpacking, and sports.
Trafas played Ted Fleming, a neighbor and party guest who appears at Louis Tully's apartment gathering near the start of the film. Ted attends the party alongside his wife Annette Fleming (played by Cheryl Birchenfield).3 The scene, set in Tully's overcrowded New York apartment, provides early comic context for the character of Louis before the supernatural events of the story begin.
Both Trafas and Birchenfield are listed by name in the film's end credits.3
Trafas had five children: Adam, Gabriel, Nicolee, Vanessa, and Marlena. He remained on close terms with his former spouse Alison after their divorce. By the time of his death he had three grandchildren: Logan, Dylan Rose, and Liberty.1
Paul Trafas died on December 2, 2012, at the age of 63. A memorial service was held on December 17, 2012, at St. Luke's in Long Beach, California.1
"Paul Alan Trafas," obituary, Dignity Memorial (Forest Lawn Long Beach), Long Beach, CA (2012). https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/long-beach-ca/paul-trafas-5342011, accessed 2026-06-13. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10
"Paul Trafas," IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0870602/, accessed 2026-06-13. ↩ ↩2
Spook Central, "Ghostbusters Screen Credits," transcription of Ghostbusters (1984) end titles. https://www.spookcentral.us/sclib/ghostbusters-screen-credits, accessed 2026-06-13. ↩ ↩2
