R.I.P PETER GRAVES
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Sad way to start todays posts with the news that actor Peter Graves has sadly died yesterday afternoon at the age of 83,Its believed that he died of an heart attack.
Peter Graves was fortunate he got his first foot in the door as they say when he was only 16 as an radio announcer but it was after a spell in the Airforce that he wanted to be an actor and was fortunate to be able to study drama at Minnesota University. Once he graduated he followed the bright lights of Hollywood and move there. At this point his brother James Arness had already made a name for himself in Gunsmoke. Like anyone trying to make a name for themselves Graves in the 1950’s worked his way up the ladder of stardom by acting in what he could into on the small and big screen and 1951 one of the parts he got was in Rogues river
On his path to stardom he would go onto to play in great movies such as Stalag 17 (Billy Wilder) and the Yellow Tomahawk. But it was to be an iconic cult television series from 1967 that millions of people around the world will remember Peter Graves by his role as agent Jim Phelps in Mission Impossible a role he would play for 6 seasons in total.
It would be many years later when stardom would come his way when he would play Captain Clarence Ovuer in the classic disaster spoof franchise Airplane. After turning down the role first time round he would change his mind when he learns that Leslie Neilson was to be in the movie and thus give us some classic comedy moments.:
“Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?”
Peter Graves did return to play Jim Phelps once more again in 1988 for the TV film version of Mission Impossible but 8 years later he was offered to be in the first movie version of Mission Impossible with Tom Cruise but refused. As some actors as they get wisely older and decide to take things a little easier,it was no for an answer with Peter Graves as he would stay active. Anything that came up from hosting or starring in everything from House to American Dad with no sign of slowing down.
I am too young to have witnessed any of Graves Pre 1975 work but as I got older and able to appreciate television and film it was through Airplane I would first see the man in action then from their watching sunday afteroon channel 4 repeats of Mission Impossible. When people talk about decades and mention 1960s it is always Michael Caine movies, Star Trek, Prisoner and of course Mission Impossible I automatically associate with the decade. German,Russian Spys worldwide will sleep easily now, Peter Graves rest in peace.
this post will self destruct in 60 seconds….
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