Peter Graves
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.
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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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Mystery Reel (2022)
- Gettysburg - An American Story (2014) as Narrator
- Darkstar: Terror at the Edge of Time (2010) as Narrator
- What a Difference a Day Made: Doris Day Superstar (2009) as Self
- American Dad! (2005) as Mr. Pibb (voice)
- Minoriteam (2005) as Sheldon Miller
- Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Featuring Audra McDonald and Peter Graves (2005) as Self
- House (2004) as Myron
- Behind the Legend: Timon (2004) as Himself - Host
- Cold Case (2003) as Anton Bikker (2006)
- Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003) as Host of Civil Defense Film
- America on the Move 1876-2000 (2003) as Host
- Men in Black II (2002) as Peter Graves
- Don't Ask Don't Tell (2002)
- Disney's House of Mouse (2001) as Instructor Voice (voice)
- These Old Broads (2001) as Bill
- Mickey Mouse Works (1999)
- House on Haunted Hill (1999) as Self
- Linda Darnell: Hollywood's Fallen Angel (1999) as Narrator
- Gene Tierney: A Shattered Portrait (1999) as Self - Host
- Doris Day: It's Magic (1998) as Narrator
- Charlie Chaplin: A Tramp's Life (1998) as Self - Narrator
- The Angry Beavers (1997)
- Mother Teresa: A Life of Devotion (1997) as Self - Host
- 7th Heaven (1996) as John 'Colonel' Camden
- Shirley Temple: The Biggest Little Star (1996) as Narrator
- Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell (1996) as Narrator
- Jerry Lewis: The Last American Clown (1996) as Self - Host
- Abbott & Costello Meet Biography (1996) as Self - Host
- William Shakespeare: A Life of Drama (1996)
- The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA (1995) as Self
- Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons (1995) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker (1995) as Self - Host
- Burke's Law (1994) as General Prescott
- The Unexplained: Witches, Werewolves & Vampires (1994) as Host
- Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess (1994) as Self - Host
- Diagnosis: Murder (1993) as Peter Graves
- Addams Family Values (1993) as Host
- Unauthorized Biographies with Peter Graves (1993) as Self - Narrator
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- The Complete Churchill (1992) as Presenter
- Mission: Impossible - The Golden Serpent (1989) as Jim Phelps
- Mission: Impossible (1988) as Jim Phelps
- War and Remembrance (1988) as Palmer Kirby
- Biography (1987) as Self - Host
- Number One with a Bullet (1987) as Capt. Ferris
- The Demon Lover (1986) as Ponsonby
- Life with Lucy (1986) as Ben Marshall
- The Golden Girls (1985) as Jerry Kennedy
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Edmund Gerard
- Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense (1984) as John Bray
- Aces Go Places III: Our Man from Bond Street (1984) as Tom Collins
- The Winds of War (1983) as Palmer 'Fred' Kirby
- The Guns and the Fury (1983) as Mark Janser
- Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) as Capt. Clarence Oveur
- Savannah Smiles (1982) as Harland Dobbs
- Simon & Simon (1981) as Wade Christian
- 300 Miles for Stephanie (1981) as Capt. McIntyre
- Airplane! (1980) as Capt. Clarence Oveur
- The Memory of Eva Ryker (1980) as Mike Rogers
- Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty (1980) as TV Director
- Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) as Major Noah Cooper
- Parts: The Clonus Horror (1979) as Jeff Knight
- The Rebels (1979) as George Washington
- Death Car on the Freeway (1979) as Lt. Haller
- Missile X: The Neutron Bomb Incident (1979) as Alec Franklin
- Survival Run (1979) as Kandaris
- Fantasy Island (1978) as 'Singapore' Eddie Malone
- SST: Death Flight (1978) as Paul Whitley
- Race for Survival (1978) as Narrator
- The Love Boat (1977) as Gerald Whitney
- The Love Boat (1977) as Leonard Culver
- The Love Boat (1977) as Carl Lawrence
- High Seas Hijack (1977) as Elliott Rhoades
- The Duchess of Duke Street (1976) as Sir Evelyn Grant-Wortley
- The Sonny and Cher Show (1976)
- The Mysterious Monsters (1976) as Himself - Narrator
- Dead Man on the Run (1975) as Jim Gideon
- Sidecar Racers (1975) as Carson
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Paul and Michelle (1974) as Sir Henry
- Scream of the Wolf (1974) as John Wetherby
- Where Have All the People Gone (1974) as Steven Anders
- The Underground Man (1974) as Lew Archer
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1973) as Self
- The All Star Spangled Mission (1973)
- The President's Plane Is Missing (1973) as Mark Jones
- Call to Danger (1973) as Doug Warfield
- Under the Law: Arrest and Seize (1973) as Narration
- Funny Face (1971)
- The Adventurers (1970) as Trustee Banker
- Mission: Impossible - The Falcon (1970) as James Phelps
- The Assassination Bureau (1969) as Dragomiloff's Butler (uncredited)
- The 5-Man Army (1969) as Dutchman
- Mission: Impossible - The Bunker (1969) as James Phelps
- Mission: Impossible - The Controllers (1969) as Jim Phelps
- Mission: Impossible vs. the Mob (1969) as Jim Phelps
- The Movie Orgy (1968) as Self (archive footage)
- The Ballad of Josie (1968) as Jason Meredith
- Sergeant Ryker (1968) as Maj. Whitaker
- The Dean Martin Christmas Show (1968) as Self (uncredited)
- Premiere (1968)
- The Invaders (1967) as Gavin Lewis
- Sleeping Dog (1967) as Sir Geoffrey
- Valley of Mystery (1967) as Ben Barstow
- Mission: Impossible - The Slave (1967) as Jim Phelps
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Jim Phelps
- Mission: Impossible (1966) Director
- Texas Across the River (1966) as Capt. Stimpson
- Gallegher Goes West (1966) as Marshal Neimeyer
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Manning Fryes
- Run for Your Life (1965) as Jim Carlson
- The Dean Martin Show (1965)
- Branded (1965)
- Laredo (1965)
- A Rage to Live (1965) as Jack Hollister
- Court Martial (1965) as Major Frank Whittaker
- Daniel Boone (1964) as Logan Harris
- 12 O'Clock High (1964)
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Maj. Frank Whitaker
- The Farmer's Daughter (1963)
- The Great Adventure (1963) as Daniel Boone
- The Virginian (1962) as Robert Gaynor
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Mark Needham
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Whiplash (1961) as Christopher Cobb
- Route 66 (1960)
- A Stranger in My Arms (1959) as Donald Beasley
- Cimarron City (1958)
- Wolf Larsen (1958) as Van Weyden
- Bayou (1957) as Martin Davis
- Beginning of the End (1957) as Dr. Ed Wainwright
- Death in Small Doses (1957) as Agent / Tom Kaylor
- It Conquered the World (1956) as Dr. Paul Nelson
- Canyon River (1956) as Bob Andrews
- Hold Back The Night (1956) as Lt. Lee Couzens
- Matinee Theater (1955)
- The Millionaire (1955) as Paul Hartley
- Fury (1955) as Jim Newton
- The Night of the Hunter (1955) as Ben Harper
- Celebrity Playhouse (1955)
- The Long Gray Line (1955) as Corporal Rudolph Heinz
- The Naked Street (1955) as Joe McFarland
- The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955) as Capt. Bob Elliott
- Wichita (1955) as Morgan Earp
- Fort Yuma (1955) as Lt. Ben Keegan
- Robbers' Roost (1955) as Heesman
- Fury (1955) as Jim Newton
- Climax! (1954) as Stanley
- Climax! (1954) as Steve Baxter
- Studio 57 (1954) as Jim Bailey
- The Yellow Tomahawk (1954) as Sawyer
- The Raid (1954) as Capt. Frank Dwyer
- Black Tuesday (1954) as Peter Manning
- Killers from Space (1954) as Douglas Martin
- The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (1953)
- The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (1953) as Fred Crain
- Stalag 17 (1953) as Sgt. Frank Price
- East of Sumatra (1953) as Cowboy
- War Paint (1953) as Trooper Tolson
- Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953) as Arnold Dix
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as Maj. Tom Howie
- Biff Baker U.S.A. (1952)
- The Congregation (1952)
- Red Planet Mars (1952) as Chris Cronyn
- Angels in the Outfield (1951) as Radio Announcer (uncredited)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Dr. James Ewing
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Rocky Kent
- Fort Defiance (1951) as Ned Tallon
- Rogue River (1951) as Pete Dandridge
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Joel Barker
- Fireside Theater (1949)
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Studio One (1948) as Glenn Willis
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
- Aliens from Space as Doug Martin