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Thread: Peter Graves dies

  1. #1
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    Peter Graves dies

    http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/1...t_peter_graves

    Peter Graves dies; found drama success with 'Mission: Impossible'; comic hit with 'Airplane'

    Mon Mar 15, 5:23 AM

    By Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press

    LOS ANGELES - Peter Graves, whose calm and intelligent demeanour was a good fit to the intrigue of "Mission Impossible" as well as the satire of the "Airplane" films, has died.



    Graves passed away Sunday just a few days before his 84th birthday outside his home in Los Angeles, publicist Sandy Brokaw said. Graves was returning from brunch with his wife of nearly 60 years and his family when he had what Graves' doctor believed was a heart attack, Brokaw said.

    Graves first gained attention of many baby boomers with the 1950s TV series "Fury," but remained best known for the role of Jim Phelps, leader of a gang of special agents who battled evil conspirators in TV's "Mission: Impossible."

    Normally cast as a hero, he turned in an unforgettable performance early in his career as the treacherous Nazi spy in Billy Wilder's 1953 prisoner-of-war drama "Stalag 17."

    He also masterfully lampooned his straight-arrow image when he portrayed bumbling airline pilot Clarence Oveur in the 1980 disaster movie spoof "Airplane!"

    Graves appeared in dozens of films and a handful of television shows in a career of nearly 60 years.

    The authority and trust he projected made him a favourite for commercials late in his life, and he was often encouraged to go into politics.

    "He had this statesmanlike quality," Brokaw said. "People were always encouraging him to run for office."

    Graves was preceded in stardom by his older brother James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on TV's "Gunsmoke."

    Born Peter Aurness, Graves adopted his grandfather's last name to avoid confusion with his older brother, who had dropped the "U" from the family name.

    Graves' career began with cheaply made exploitation films like "It Conquered the World," in which he battled a carrot-shaped monster from Venus, and "Beginning of the World," in which he fought a giant grasshopper.

    He later took on equally formidable human villains each week on "Mission: Impossible."

    Every show began with Graves, as agent Phelps, listening to a tape of instructions outlining his team's latest mission and explaining that if he or any of his agents were killed or captured "the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions."

    The tape always self-destructed within seconds of being played.

    The show ran on CBS from 1967 to 1973 and was revived on ABC from 1988 to 1990 with Graves back as the only original cast member.

    The actor credited clever writing for the show's success.

    "It made you think a little bit and kept you on the edge of your seat because you never knew what was going to happen next," he once said.

    He also played roles in such films as John Ford's "The Long Gray Line" and Charles Laughton's "The Night of the Hunter," as well as "The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell," "Texas Across the River" and "The Ballad of Josie."

    Graves' first television series was the children's Saturday morning show, "Fury," about an orphan and his untamed black stallion. Filmed in Australia, it lasted six years on NBC.

    In his later years, Graves brought his white-haired eminence to PBS as host of "Discover: The World of Science" and A&E's "Biography" series.

    He noted during an interview in 2000 that he made his foray into comedy somewhat reluctantly.

    Filmmakers Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker had written a satire on the airplane-in-trouble movies, and they wanted Graves and fellow handsome actors Lloyd Bridges, Leslie Nielsen and Robert Stack to spoof their serious images.

    All agreed, but Graves admitted to nervousness. On the one hand, he said, he considered the role a challenge, "but it also scared me."

    "I thought I could lose a whole long acting career," he recalled.

    "Airplane!" became a box-office smash, and Graves returned for "Airplane II, The Sequel."

    Graves was a champion hurdler in high school in Minnesota, as well as a clarinet player in dance bands and a radio announcer.

    After two years in the Air Force, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota as a drama major and worked in summer stock before following his brother west to Hollywood.

    He found enough success there to send for his college sweetheart, Joan Endress. They were married in 1950 and had three daughters - Kelly Jean, Claudia King and Amanda Lee - and six grandchildren.
    "Do or do not. There is no try." -- Yoda

  2. #2
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    Yes I heard that on the news this morning.. They said he would have been 84 this week.. How sad.. RIP Peter Graves.. So enjoyed you in your movies..

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  3. #3
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    You have your real wings now, Capt. Oveur.

    RIP.

    ------------


    You ever been in a cockpit before?

  4. #4
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    Rest in peace to a fine actor and a fine gentleman.
    I meant," said Ipslore bitterly, "what is there in this world that truly makes living worthwhile?"
    Death thought about it.
    CATS, he said eventually. CATS ARE NICE.

    -- Terry Pratchett (1948—2015), Sourcery

  5. #5
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    Oh i am so sad to read this, I adored Peter Graves, especially when he was young, i thought he was one hottie,RIP Peter, you gave many a lot of enjoyment watching you, an excellent actor who will be missed.
    Furangels only lent.
    RIP my gorgeous Sooti, taken from us far too young, we miss your beautiful face and purssonality,take care of Ash for us, love you xx000❤️❤️

    RIP my beautiful Ash,your pawprints are forever in my heart, love and miss you so much my big boy. ❤️❤️

    RIP my sweet gorgeous girl Ellie-Mae, a little battler to the end, you will never ever be forgotten, your little soul is forever in my heart, my thoughts, my memories, my love for you will never die, Love you my darling little precious girl.❤️❤️

    RIP our sweet Nikita taken suddenly ,way too soon ,you were a special girl we loved you so much ,miss you ❤️❤️

    RIP my beautiful Lexie, 15 years of unconditional love you gave us, we loved you so much, and miss you more than words can say.❤️❤️

    RIP beautiful Evee Ray Skye ,my life will never be the same with out you ,I loved you so much, I will never forget you ,miss you my darling .❤️❤️

  6. #6
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    Yep, I had one major crush on Peter Graves when I was younger. I loved him in Fury and also in Cat Ballou with Jane Fonda. You will be missed Mr. Graves.
    No matter what anyone does, someone some where will be offended some how!!!!
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    Grandma (RB), Chester, Angel, Chip

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  7. #7
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    I don't remember Peter Graves in Cat Ballou. What part did he play?
    I do remember him in Stalag 17.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Freckles View Post
    I don't remember Peter Graves in Cat Ballou. What part did he play?
    I do remember him in Stalag 17.
    OOPS! Sorry the brain cells got confused. He was in the Ballad of Josie with Doris Day not Cat Ballou. (I think it was doris day anyway)
    No matter what anyone does, someone some where will be offended some how!!!!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    MY BLESSINGS:
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Grandma (RB), Chester, Angel, Chip

    Leonardo (RB), Luke (RB), Winnie, Chuck,

    Frankie

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    WHERE YOU ARE IS WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE!!!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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