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Peter Graves

Acting Born Mar 18, 1926 Died Mar 14, 2010 Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 176 credits

Biography

Peter Graves, born Peter Duesler Aurness on March 18, 1926, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was an American actor. Growing up in Minnesota, he excelled at sports and music as a saxophonist and worked as a radio announcer at WMIN in Minneapolis by age 16. Following two years in the United States Air Force, he studied drama at the University of Minnesota before moving to Hollywood. He first appeared on television and made his film debut in Rogue River in 1951, going on to make numerous film appearances, particularly in Westerns. He is primarily recognized for his television work, notably as Jim Phelps in Mission: Impossible, which premiered in 1966. Peter Graves passed away from a heart attack on March 14, 2010.

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Career

Career overview

Peter Graves was born Peter Duesler Aurness on March 18, 1926, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While growing up, he excelled at sports and music as a saxophonist and worked as a radio announcer at WMIN in Minneapolis by the age of 16. Following two years of service in the United States Air Force, he studied drama at the University of Minnesota and subsequently relocated to Hollywood. His initial appearances were on television, which led to his film debut in the 1951 movie Rogue River. Numerous film roles followed, with a particular concentration in Westerns.

Although he appeared in various films, Graves achieved his primary recognition through his extensive television work. Most notably, he portrayed Jim Phelps in the television series Mission: Impossible, which premiered in 1966. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 172 known acting credits in television and film.

Graves passed away from a heart attack on March 14, 2010, at the age of 83 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, leaving behind a legacy defined by his prominent television presence and enduring contributions to the entertainment industry.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

Mystery Reel
Gettysburg - An American Story
Darkstar: Terror at the Edge of Time
What a Difference a Day Made: Doris Day Superstar
American Dad!MinoriteamChristmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Featuring Audra McDonald and Peter Graves
HouseBehind the Legend: Timon
Cold CaseLooney Tunes: Back in ActionAmerica on the Move 1876-2000
Men in Black IIDon't Ask Don't Tell
Disney's House of MouseThese Old Broads
Mickey Mouse WorksHouse on Haunted HillLinda Darnell: Hollywood's Fallen AngelGene Tierney: A Shattered Portrait
Doris Day: It's MagicCharlie Chaplin: A Tramp's Life
The Angry BeaversMother Teresa: A Life of Devotion
7th HeavenShirley Temple: The Biggest Little StarJean Harlow: Platinum BombshellJerry Lewis: The Last American ClownAbbott & Costello Meet Biography
The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRABetty Boop: Queen of the CartoonsDarryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker
Burke's LawThe Unexplained: Witches, Werewolves & VampiresMarilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess
Diagnosis: MurderAddams Family ValuesUnauthorized Biographies with Peter Graves
The Tonight Show with Jay LenoThe Complete Churchill
Mission: Impossible - The Golden Serpent
Mission: ImpossibleWar and Remembrance
BiographyNumber One with a Bullet
The Demon LoverLife with Lucy
The Golden Girls
Murder, She WroteHammer House of Mystery and SuspenseAces Go Places III: Our Man from Bond Street
The Winds of WarThe Guns and the Fury
Airplane II: The SequelSavannah Smiles
Simon & Simon300 Miles for Stephanie
Airplane!The Memory of Eva RykerSteve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty
Buck Rogers in the 25th CenturyParts: The Clonus HorrorThe RebelsDeath Car on the FreewayMissile X: The Neutron Bomb Incident
Fantasy IslandSST: Death FlightRace for Survival
The Love BoatThe Love BoatThe Love BoatHigh Seas Hijack

Full filmography