Movie Scenes

Film and television star Peter Graves died Sunday of a heart attack outside his home in Pacific Palisades, California. He was 83.

The dashing actor (one of the few who could actually carry the term dashing) had just returned from brunch with his wife and children. One of his daughters administered CPR, but Heaven apparently needed one more dashing actor.

Peter Graves had an impressive career that spanned 60 years. He was best known for his Golden Globe-winning portrayal of James Phelps on the piece of Americana and pop culture we know as ‘Mission: Impossible.’ This outstanding spy drama ran for seven seasons on CBS and later would launch hugely successful (and equally outstanding) films starring Tom Cruise.

Peter Graves also graced other television series such as ‘Fury,’ ‘Whiplash,’ ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents,’ ‘The Dean Martin Show,’ ‘Fantasy Island’ and ’7th Heaven.’

In the mid-’90s, Peter Graves became the wonderful (and, yes, dashing) host of A&E’s ‘Biography,’ and received an Emmy for the 1997 special ‘Judy Garland: Beyond the Rainbow.’

The talented actor also appeared in a number of well-known and successful movies, including Billy Wilder’s ‘Stalag 17,’ opposite Oscar winner William Holden, ‘Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell’ and the 1955 thriller ‘Night of the Hunter.’

Of all of his films, however, it was the 1980 comedy ‘Airplane!’ that earned Graves the most fame in theaters. He turned in a hilarious performance as Captain Clarence Oveur in the film as well as its 1982 sequel.

Thankfully, just last October, Peter Graves received a much-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to honor his career.

According to the Times, Graves is survived by his older brother, actor James Arness (Gunsmoke), his wife, Joan Graves, whom he married in 1950, and his three daughters. He died just four days shy of his 84th birthday.

How Much Do You Know About Peter Graves?

• Peter Graves was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 18, 1926
• He was left-handed
• Peter excelled in sports and music
• He played the saxophone
• Served two years in the Air Force
• Studied drama at the University of Minnesota
• When he first received the script for Airplane, he hated it!  He called it “the worst piece of junk” he’d ever seen.  However, he changed his mind when he met the writers.