Peter Graves

Peter Graves was born Peter Aurness on March 18, 1926 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (He was the younger brother of actor James Arness). Graves died of a heart attack yesterday, just four days prior to his 84th birthday. He collapsed outside his home in Pacific Palisades, shortly after returning from a Sunday brunch with his family. His daughter administered CPR in an attempt to revive him.

Graves appeared in more than seventy films, TV series and TV movies. He is best known Jim Phelps, the leader of the elite Impossible Missions Force in the iconic CBS TV series Mission: Impossible from 1967 to 1973, and its revival, from 1988 to 1990 and Captain Clarence Oveur in the comedies Airplane! (“You ever seen a grown man naked?”)and Airplane II: The Sequel.

During the 1990s, he hosted the documentary series Biography on A&E.

Graves received a Golden Globe Award in 1971 for his role as Jim Phelps on Mission: Impossible. He also received nominations for an Emmy Award and Golden Globe awards in other seasons of that show. Graves also won a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding informational series in 1997 as host of Biography. On October 30, 2009 Graves was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Good Night Mr. Phelps and good luck on your new mission.


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Tony Figueroa