Peter Graves passes away at age 83

[ikaiyoo]

PACIFIC PALISADES -- Actor Peter Graves was found dead Sunday afternoon at his home in Pacific Palisades. He was 83 years old.Graves, who starred in "Mission: Impossible," "Airplane!" and Billy Wilder's "Stalag 17"--apparently died of a heart attack just a few days short of his 84th birthday, according to his publicist Sandy Brokaw.Brokaw said Graves had just returned from brunch with his wife and kids Sunday, and collapsed before he made it into the house.According to the publicist, one of Graves' daughters administered CPR but was unable to revive him. The family doctor reportedly visited the house and said he believed Graves had suffered a heart attack.The coroner was not investigating the death, and that there was no indication of foul play, according to Los Angeles Police Department officer Karen Rayner.Graves has appeared in more than seventy films, TV series and TV movies. He started his career humbly in 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.Graves later took on the role of agent Jim Phelps in "Mission: Impossible," with every episode beginning with him listening to a tape of instructions outlining his team's latest mission before the tape self-destructed.The show ran on CBS from 1967 to 1973 and was revived on ABC from 1988 to 1990 with Graves returning as the only original cast member.He won a Golden Globe Award in 1971 for his in "Mission: Impossible." He also received nominations for Emmy Awards and Golden Globe awards in other seasons of that show.In his later years, Graves made a move to television hosting, bringing his trustworthy and authoritative air to PBS' "Discover: The World of Science" and A&E's "Biography" series.Graves told the Los Angeles Times last year that he initially turned down the role for "Airplane!" because he thought it was in poor taste-- until actors Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges and Leslie Nielsen signed on to the cast. "They say you are supposed to stretch as an actor, so let's go stretch it," he told The Times' Susan King.Graves was born Peter Aurness in Minneapolis. He adopted his grandfather's last name to avoid confusion with his older brother, actor James Arness, who was well known as Marshall Matt Dillon on TV's "Gunsmoke."He was a champion hurdler in high school, as well as a clarinet player in dance bands and a radio announcer.After two years in the Air Force, Graves enrolled at the University of Minnesota as a drama major before deciding to follow his brother to Hollywood.When he became successful, he sent for his college sweetheart, Joan Endress, to join him in Hollywood. Peter and Joan were married in 1950 and had three daughters -- Kelly Jean, Claudia King and Amanda Lee -- and six grandchildren.

 

[crydun]

I thought he was married to Betty White....

 

[paracarl44]

Another Sad Day.

I remember him well from "Mission Impossible". RIP Peter Graves.

 

[love feet]

RIP!

 

[Crash Brickwall]

I thought he was married to Betty White....

Betty White was married to Allen Ludden, host of Password.

My favorite Peter Graves character was the airline pilot Captain Over in the movie Airplane.

 

[leafstk]

He was brilliant in Airplane! Saw this in the paper today, that's too bad 🙁

 

[ticklebunny 2]

Awwwwwwww I am so sorry to hear this. I loved Peter Graves on Airplane he was so talented and so funny. His lines in Airplane always made me laugh hysterically and made me smile. He was a great actor and he seemed like a great person. Least he lived a long and happy fulfilling life. He did what he loved to do before he passed away. Sounds like he touched many lives and made many smile and brought laughter to many fans. May he rest in peace and may he enjoy heaven. May God bring comfort to his family and friends-help them during this extremely rough time in their lives. RIP Peter Graves I will miss you and many will miss you, you were great.