RIP: Peter Graves Dead at 83
by Big HollywoodActor Peter Graves, whose career spanned a star-making role in the 1960s TV series “Mission Impossible” to a late career reboot in the 1980s as Captain Clarence Oveur in the two slapstick “Airplane!” movies, died at age 83 on Sunday.
According to CNN, Graves collapsed in the driveway of his Los Angeles home on Sunday and was found by his daughter, who attempted to perform CPR unsuccessfully. A spokesperson for the actor said he was in good health and died of natural causes.
Born Peter Aurness on March 26, 1925, Graves had a long and storied career in Hollywood that spanned more than 70 movies and a number of TV series, beginning in 1942 with an uncredited debut in the war film “Winning Your Wings.” He moved out to Hollywood to join his older brother, actor James Arness, best known as the star of the long-running TV Western “Gunsmoke.” Peter changed his last name his name to avoid confusion with his sibling.
His early career was distinguished by a number of roles in schlocky horror and space movies (which would later become a running joke on “Mystery Science Theater 3000″) such as “Red Planet Mars,” Roger Corman’s “It Conquered the World” and “Killers From Space.” He had his first breakout role in the 1953 World War II classic “Stalag 17,” where he played an undercover Nazi spy hiding among American POWs in a German camp.
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68 Comments
Rest in Piece Mr. Graves rest is peace.
i met Mr Graves when he was campaigning for Ford in 1976. I was 10 yrs old and a big fan of Mission Impossible. Great guy. This was before his Airplane role, otherwise i would have gotten naked I guess. LOL
RIP
I think most people reading this will be saying to themselves "There were two Airplane movies?"
And my answer to you is, don't bother seeking out the second.
God be with you Peter "Mr. Phelps." Graves RIP!! Will continue to enjoy your narration on Biographys and the Biography Channel.
To me Peter Graves will always be Jim Newton in Fury.
Another part of my youth gone. Thanks for all the fine work. You'll be missed.
If he was truly born on March 26, 1925, he couldn't possibly be 83. Math is obviously not one of MTV's strong suits.
RIP, Peter Graves.
This message will self-destruct in 5 seconds.
Have you ever been in a Turkish prison?
Do you like movies about gladiators?
You ever seen a grown man naked?
Only Peter Graves can ask a little boy these questions without ruining his career.
IMDB lists his birthdate as 18 March 1926. He was just shy of 84.
Why is it when somebody dies now, I think, smart move getting out of here now?
Thank you for all the entertainment you've given me over the years, Mr. Graves. May you rest in peace and may your soul rejoice in the glory and presence of the Lord.
I'd like to say you're wrong based solely on William Shatner uttering "Irony can be pretty ironic." in the second one, but that's its only redeeming factor.
Here's Peter Graves in a much better Airplane sequel: http://www.threedonia.com/archives/21372
"What's your vector, Victor?"
Let's see, in Mr. Graves honor should I watch The Film Crew riffiing "Killers From Space", Mike and the Bots riffing on "Beginning of the End", "Stalag 17" or all three? All three it is.
Godspeed sir. You were a class act.
You beat me to it…
Tonight on Biography: God.
Some actors can't hide their character. There was a tone about his voice that suggested how much of a gentleman he seemed to be. RIP Peter Graves. By my childhood timeline, I saw him in Airplane before I ever saw reruns of Mission: Impossible. That made the show a bit different at first…
I loved those Saturday morning shows!!! Rin Tin Tin, Paul Winchel, Soupy Sales, Ruff and Ready and of course Fury. One episode sticks in my memory… The son has a dream and his dad (Peter Graves) is a Rifleman like character. Pa gets shot and as he's 'dieing' he explains "he got his hand stuck in the goll durn pump handle". For some reason that has stuck in my memory for 50 years.
Funny Funny man!!
RIP Mr Phelps.
Because unfortunately for those like you and I, we know what a shyte storm we are in for in the near future.
[...] Peter Graves, R.I.P. According to CNN, Graves collapsed in the driveway of his Los Angeles home on Sunday and was found by his daughter, who attempted to perform CPR unsuccessfully. Story & brief bio here. [...]
If you had only seen him first (for years) in the deadly serious role on Mission: Impossible, you'd have been wracked by fits of uncontrollable laughter to see him later in Airplane!.
Thanks Peter, were are all the better for having been entertained by ye.
Despite a lack of William Shatner's immortal "Irony can be pretty ironic." line, a much better sequel of sorts for Mr. Graves: http://www.threedonia.com/archives/21372.
Despite a lack of William Shatner's immortal "Irony can be pretty ironic." line, a much better sequel of sorts for Mr. Graves: http://www.threedonia.com/archives/21372.
[...] Peter Graves, RIP Actor Peter Graves died at his Los Angeles home on Sunday at the age of 83. He appeared in dozens of movies, including the classic Stalag 17, and was best known for his lead role in the entertaining 1960s TV series Mission: Impossible. Story and brief bio here. [...]
A much more worthy sequel of sorts here, even without Shatner's immortal "Irony can be pretty ironic" line: http://www.threedonia.com/archives/21372
[...] Graves, RIP Actor Peter Graves died at his Los Angeles home on Sunday at the age of 83. Story and brief bio here. He appeared in dozens of movies, including the classic Stalag 17, and was best known for his lead [...]
Good morning, Mr Phelps… The man you are looking at is…
Not many people recall that he was not the original head of the IMF, and that if Steven Hill, ex-of Law and Order hadn't balked at working on the Jewish Sabbath, Jim Phelps might well have remained just one of the faces chosen for the current mission from a folderful of possible operatives. Thankfully, though, they gave big Peter Graves his chance at the lead spot and he never looked back. God rest your soul, Mr Graves.
Peter, a great body of work, you were one hell of an actor and you kept it classy too!
His brother James got that limp from a frag wound he got at Anzio. Peter graves was a heck of an actor, and the article really hits the mark about his natural bent for comedy.
I'm going to get my Tangerine Lip Gloss and put some on.
"So I put on some Tangerine Lip Gloss and answered the door."
(Remember that GEICO ad Peter did ?)
RIP Peter….
A much more worthy sequel foe Mr. Graves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EXJZ8J-pds
Why is BH using this short, cheesy MTV obit?? Not even the AP? Not even writing a new one/appreciation? Mr. Graves deserved better from a site that purport to higher quality. I guess there are more "why Tom Hanks/Mat Damon/James Cameron/the MSM sucks" posts to put up, because ya can't have too many of those around here…
"I'm Peter Graves, and I was wondering if you could direct me to the Natatorium? I'm attending a swim meet. I'm Peter Graves." — from Crow T. Robot's screenplay about Peter Graves' attendance at the University of Minnesota. Peter Graves, R.I.P.
I actually liked the second one a lot, especially the moon scenes with Shatner. I didn't realize until very recently that the creative team from the first one did not make it.
Peter Graves= Class
I remember him from Whiplash, which I saw when I was very young. It was the first thing I saw about Australia.
Loved Peter Graves; talented actor, handsome bloke who matured gracefully. Thank you, Mr. Phelps.
Your mission Jim, should you choose to accept it, is to break on through to the other side. Good Luck.
Well, you could both off yourselves now.
Here in Oz, the movie was called "Flying High", which I think was a far better name for a movie that was so off the wall funny in it's day, that you really thought you were "high", when you watched it.
I have a dvd of Flying High. I'm going to watch it tonight for the umpteenth time in honour of Mr Graves.
God bless Peter. You were a real gentleman, and an unforgettable actor..
"oh look, it's a BOY dog"!!!!!
You first.
My 5 year old just happened to be watching the Looney Tunes movie last week and I overheard Peter Graves voice in a MI like skit. Thought to myself how good it was to know he was still kicking the can. You never know how quickly life changes. RIP Peter Graves, you left the theater at the right time, this movie is abou to get really ugly.
I will always remember him as Rhoda's lover in "Winds of War " and "War and Remembrance"… He did a terrific job ………..
I am surprised no one mentioned another cult film he was in, "Night of the Hunter" where he was Robert Mitchum's doomed cellmate who gave Mitchum's crazy preacher ("The one with "Love" tattooed on one hand and "Hate" on the other) the idea of romancing Graves' character's widow to get the bank robbery money he had stolen and hidden before he was arrested.
Loved me some Fury….
well moron joe, since we're all such idiots over here, why dont you show us how?
Indeed! That's what made his Airplane performances so histerical.
Not me, I'm pretty happy. And you aren't all morons, just some of you.
"Not me, I'm pretty happy"
Indeed, I've heard that ignorance is bliss.
No conservative actor could say that now.
Another class act has left the earth. I also remember him in the TV series 7th Heaven – a classy role for a classy guy. Rest in Peace, Peter. And may God bless your family who is surely grieving such a huge loss.
Couldn't bring myself to see the bigscreen M:I when I heard what they did to the character of Phelps. Ugh.
Peter Graves and the other actors portraying the Impossible Missions Force made up a fantastic part of my childhood. Thank you, Mr. Graves, and RIP.
Same with having Barbara Billingsley's character fluent in Jive?
No doubt!
"Jive ass dude aint got no brains anyhow… Hmpph"
More clips…
Now let’s put together several shorts….
[...] Graves, famous for his role in the Mission: Impossible television series, has died of natural causes at 83. (Big [...]
He was a hero! From Mission Impossible to Airplane.. he will be missed… all time best: I'm not joking, and stop calling me Shirley! J World Sailing School
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I loved the original Mission Impossible series! I used to watch it as a kid! So sad to hear him pass away, hope he rests in peace.
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When a great actor dies it is truly sad and you think that no other performer can take his place and in great proportions that is true. May you rest in peace and may God have mercy on your soul.
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That sucks very much, I love the movies he used to do, one of my favorites was the TV series Mission: Impossible. The cinema did lost one of its icons.
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