biographyBorn Peter Aurness in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on March 18, 1926, handsome actor Peter Graves enjoyed a career that spanned six decades. Graves got his start in radio as a teenager. Following a stint in the armed services, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota in 1946 as a drama major and later headed for California. A year after marrying his wife Joan, Graves snagged a starring role in his first film, the independently produced Rogue River (1951; with Rory Calhoun). His next film, for the same production company, was the western Fort Defiance (1951; with Dane Clark, Ben Johnson, and Tracey Roberts). In 1952, he starred in his first science fiction vehicle, Red Planet Mars (with Andrea King), setting the stage for Graves' string of science fiction films in the 1950s which includes Killers from Space (1954; with Barbara Bestar), It Conquered the World (1956; with Beverly Garland and Lee Van Cleef), and Beginning of the End (1957; with Peggie Castle and Morris Ankrum). In addition, Graves appeared in a number of westerns, such as Robbers' Roost (1955; with George Montgomery and Bruce Bennett) and Fort Yuma (1955; with John Hudson), along with a number of dramas and war pictures. Always a very busy actor, while making films Peter Graves also had a thriving television career, beginning with the NBC TV series Fury (1955-1960), which he followed up with the short-lived ATV series Whiplash (1961), which was shot in Australia. His next series was the one-season Court Martial (1965-1966; with Bradford Dillman), which filmed in the United Kingdom. It was his fourth TV series, the CBS actioner Mission: Impossible (1966-1973; with Barbara Bain and Peter Lupus), in which most people remember Graves. He was brought in during the second season to replace actor Steven Hill, who had starred during the first season. Graves remained in the role for the remainder of the series. Later in the 1970s, he acted in numerous made-for-TV movies, including the thriller Scream of the Wolf (1974; with Clint Walker, Jo Ann Pflug, and Philip Carey), the drama SST: Death Flight (1977; with Tina Louise, George Maharis, Martin Milner, and Doug McClure), and the mystery Death Car on the Freeway (1979; with Shelley Hack, Frank Gorshin, and Barbara Rush). |
the films of peter gravesRed Planet Mars (1952)Graves attempts to contact beings on Mars with the help of Walter Sande and Andrea King in the United Artists science fiction release Red Planet MarsBeneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)With Robert Wagner and Terry Moore in the 20th Century-Fox underwater adventure Beneath the 12-Mile ReefKillers from Space (1954)From the fun science fiction effort Killers from Space, released by RKO. LEFT: Graves as scientist Doug Martin. CENTER A: Following a plane crash, Peter Graves is captured by aliens who plan to take over Earth. CENTER B: With Barbara Bestar as his wife. RIGHT: Graves attempts to foil the bug-eyed aliens' plan to take over the worldFort Yuma (1955)From the United Artists western Fort Yuma. LEFT: Graves and John Hudson tend to a dead body. RIGHT: With Joan Vohs, Addison Richards, and John HudsonDeath in Small Doses (1957)From the Allied Artists release Death in Small Doses. LEFT: Government agent Peter Graves shakes down Merry Anders. RIGHT: With Mala PowersBeginning of the End (1957)From Republic's science fiction flick Beginning of the End, which once aired on Mystery Science Theater 3000. LEFT: With love interest Peggie Castle. RIGHT: Graves attempts to save the world from giant grasshoppersWolf Larsen (1958)A Rage to Live (1965)From the potboiler A Rage to Live, released by United Artists. Bethel Leslie throws a drink in husband Peter Graves' face upon discovering his dalliance with nymphomaniac Suzanne PleshetteSergeant Ryker (1965)With Bradford Dillman in the Universal drama Sergeant Ryker. This film is actually comprised of two 1963 episodes of Kraft Suspense Theatre titled The Case Against Paul RykerMission: Impossible (1966-1973 CBS TV Series)Cast photo from the CBS TV series Mission: Impossible featuring Peter Lupus, Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Greg Morris, and Peter GravesThe Ballad of Josie (1967)From the comedy/western The Ballad of Josie, released by Universal. LEFT: Doris Day, as the title character, watches as Peter Graves and George Kennedy get ready to mix it up. RIGHT: Again with Day and KennedyMission Impossible Versus the Mob (1968)LEFT: Lobby card from the theatrical release Mission Impossible Versus the Mob with Peter Lupus. RIGHT: Promotional shot from the filmThe Five Man Army (1969)From the spaghetti western The Five Man Army. LEFT: Graves as the Dutchman. CENTER and RIGHT: Promotional shots from the film, released in the U.S. by MGMScream of the Wolf (1974)LEFT: Promotional photo from the made-for-TV horror flick Scream of the Wolf, originally aired by ABC. RIGHT: With costar Philip CareyAirplane! (1980)From the hilarious Aiplane!, released by Paramount. Graves does a comedic turn as Captain Clarence Oveur. Also pictured are Julie Hagerty, Lorna Patterson, and Leslie NielsenAirplane II: The Sequel (1982)From Airplane II, released by Paramount. Pictured along with Graves are Julie Hagerty, Kent McCord, and James A. Watson Jr.later yearsAlthough never lacking work, Graves reinvigorated his career with his hilarious role as Captain Clarence Oveur in Airplane! (1980; with Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty). In 1987, he began hosting A & E Network's successful Biography series, which he stayed with through the 1994 season. He continued working in films and on such TV shows as 7th Heaven until his sudden death on March 14, 2010, at the age of 83. He was survived by his wife, three daughters, a number of grandchildren, and his brother, western legend and Gunsmoke star James Arness.Since the 1980s, cult audiences have given new life to Graves' science fiction and horror flicks, such as Beginning of the End (1957; with Peggie Castle) and Parts: The Clonus Horror (1979; with Dick Sargent and Keenan Wynn). |
filmographyFILM
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