Date of Birth

18 March 1926, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Date of Death

14 March 2010, Pacific Palisades, California, USA

Birth Name

Peter Duesler Aurness

While growing up in Minnesota, Peter Graves excelled at sports and music (as a saxophonist), and by age 16 he was a radio announcer at WMIN in Minneapolis. After two years in the U.S. Air Force, he studied drama at the University of Minnesota and then headed to Hollywood, where he first appeared on television and later made his film debut in Rogue River (1951). Numerous film appearances followed, especially in Westerns. Graves is primarily recognized for his television work, however, particularly as Jim Phelps in "Mission: Impossible" (1966).

Daughters with Endress: Kelly, Claudia and Amanda Graves.

He said it was almost over for Captain Oveur before the movie Airplane! (1980) took flight. Graves said he was astounded when his agent sent him the script for the 1980 spoof, and after reading it, he felt that it was "the worst piece of junk" he had ever seen. However, he changed his mind after meeting with the movie's writers, Jerry Zucker and David Zucker.

He directed the "Which Dr." episode of "Gun Law" (1955), his older brother James Arness being the star of that series.

Best remembered by the public for his starring role as "Jim Phelps" in "Mission: Impossible" (1966).

Uncle of Craig Aurness, Rolf Aurness and Jenny Lee Arness.

Ex-brother-in-law of Virginia Chapman.

Interviewed in "Earth vs. the Sci-Fi Filmmakers" by Tom Weaver (McFarland, 2005).

Younger brother of James Arness, star of the long-running "Gun Law" (1955) TV series.

Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Words of remembrance tribute provided by critic Richard Corliss for "Time" magazine's milestones section (Issue: March 29, 2010).

Price:  £25.00