Peter Graves
Known for: Acting
Peter Graves (born Peter Duesler Aurness; March 18, 1926 – March 14, 2010) was an American actor. While growing up in Minnesota, he excelled at sports and music (as a saxophonist), and by age 16, he was a radio announcer at WMIN in Minneapolis. After two years in the United States Air Force, he studied drama at the University of Minnesota and then headed to Hollywood, where he first appeared on television and later made his film debut in Rogue River (1951). Numerous film appearances followed, especially in Westerns. However, Graves is primarily recognized for his television work, particularly as Jim Phelps in Mission: Impossible (1966). Peter Graves died of a heart attack on March 14, 2010, just four days before his 84th birthday.
Filmography
Series
House
Myron
2004
Series
American Dad!
Mr. Pibb (voice)
2005
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
Murder, She Wrote
Edmund Gerard
1984
Series
Diagnosis: Murder
Peter Graves
1993
Series
The Love Boat
Gerald Whitney
1977
Series
The Love Boat
Leonard Culver
1977
Series
The Love Boat
Carl Lawrence
1977
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944
Series
Cold Case
Anton Bikker (2006)
2003
Series
Matinee Theater
1955
Series
Climax!
Stanley
1954
Series
Climax!
Steve Baxter
1954
Series
Mission: Impossible
Jim Phelps
1966
Series
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Mark Needham
1962
Series
The Virginian
Robert Gaynor
1962
Series
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Series
Simon & Simon
Wade Christian
1981
Series
The Golden Girls
Jerry Kennedy
1985
Series
Studio One
Glenn Willis
1948
Series
Daniel Boone
Logan Harris
1964
Series
The F.B.I.
Manning Fryes
1965
Series
Run for Your Life
Jim Carlson
1965
Series
7th Heaven
John 'Colonel' Camden
1996
Series
The Invaders
Gavin Lewis
1967
Series
Route 66
1960
Series
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
Series
Dinah!
Self
1974
Series
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Major Noah Cooper
1979
Series
The Millionaire
Paul Hartley
1955
Series
The Angry Beavers
1997
Series
12 O'Clock High
1964
Series
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Maj. Frank Whitaker
1963
Series
Laredo
1965
Series
Disney's House of Mouse
Instructor Voice (voice)
2001
Lux Video Theatre
Joel Barker
1950
Series
Branded
1965
Series
Studio 57
Jim Bailey
1954
Series
Burke's Law
General Prescott
1994
Series
Biography
Self - Host
1987
Series
Cavalcade of America
Maj. Tom Howie
1952
Series
The Dean Martin Show
1965
Series
Mickey Mouse Works
1999
Film
Men in Black II
Peter Graves
2002
Film
Airplane!
Capt. Clarence Oveur
1980
Series
Fury
Jim Newton
1955
Series
The Great Adventure
Daniel Boone
1963
Series
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self
1973
Series
The Farmer's Daughter
1963
Series
War and Remembrance
Palmer Kirby
1988
Series
Mission: Impossible
Jim Phelps
1988
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
1953
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
Fred Crain
1953
Film
Addams Family Values
Host
1993
Series
The Duchess of Duke Street
Sir Evelyn Grant-Wortley
1976
Series
Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense
John Bray
1984
Series
The Winds of War
Palmer 'Fred' Kirby
1983
Series
The Sonny and Cher Show
1976
Film
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Host of Civil Defense Film
2003
Series
The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA
Self
1995
Film
Airplane II: The Sequel
Capt. Clarence Oveur
1982
Series
Life with Lucy
Ben Marshall
1986
Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Dr. James Ewing
1951
Film
The Night of the Hunter
Ben Harper
1955
Fireside Theater
1949
Series
Biff Baker U.S.A.
1952
Film
House on Haunted Hill
Self
1999
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Rocky Kent
1951
Series
Funny Face
1971
Film
Angels in the Outfield
Radio Announcer (uncredited)
1951
Series
Cimarron City
1958
Series
Whiplash
Christopher Cobb
1961
Film
Wichita
Morgan Earp
1955
Film
Aces Go Places III: Our Man from Bond Street
Tom Collins
1984
Film
Stalag 17
Sgt. Frank Price
1953
Series
The Rebels
George Washington
1979
Series
Minoriteam
Sheldon Miller
2005
Film
Black Tuesday
Peter Manning
1954
Film
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1968
Film
The Long Gray Line
Corporal Rudolph Heinz
1955
Film
Valley of Mystery
Ben Barstow
1967
Film
Sergeant Ryker
Maj. Whitaker
1968
Film
The 5-Man Army
Dutchman
1969
Film
Fort Yuma
Lt. Ben Keegan
1955
Film
These Old Broads
Bill
2001
Film
The Assassination Bureau
Dragomiloff's Butler (uncredited)
1969
Film
Number One with a Bullet
Capt. Ferris
1987
Film
SST: Death Flight
Paul Whitley
1978
Film
The Adventurers
Trustee Banker
1970
Film
Savannah Smiles
Harland Dobbs
1982
Premiere
1968
Film
Texas Across the River
Capt. Stimpson
1966
Film
Death in Small Doses
Agent / Tom Kaylor
1957
Film
The Memory of Eva Ryker
Mike Rogers
1980
Film
Fort Defiance
Ned Tallon
1951
Unauthorized Biographies with Peter Graves
Self - Narrator
1993
Film
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
Capt. Bob Elliott
1955
Film
Death Car on the Freeway
Lt. Haller
1979
Film
War Paint
Trooper Tolson
1953
Film
Mother Teresa: A Life of Devotion
Self - Host
1997
Film
The Ballad of Josie
Jason Meredith
1968
Film
Canyon River
Bob Andrews
1956
Film
It Conquered the World
Dr. Paul Nelson
1956
Film
The Raid
Capt. Frank Dwyer
1954
Film
Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess
Self - Host
1994
Film
The Underground Man
Lew Archer
1974
Film
Mission: Impossible - The Slave
Jim Phelps
1967
Film
The Yellow Tomahawk
Sawyer
1954
Film
East of Sumatra
Cowboy
1953
Film
A Rage to Live
Jack Hollister
1965
Film
The President's Plane Is Missing
Mark Jones
1973
Film
Red Planet Mars
Chris Cronyn
1952
Film
Beneath the 12-Mile Reef
Arnold Dix
1953
Film
The Naked Street
Joe McFarland
1955
The Congregation
1952
Film
Beginning of the End
Dr. Ed Wainwright
1957
Celebrity Playhouse
1955
Film
Bayou
Martin Davis
1957
Court Martial
Major Frank Whittaker
1965
Film
Robbers' Roost
Heesman
1955
Film
Mission: Impossible vs. the Mob
Jim Phelps
1969
Film
Survival Run
Kandaris
1979
Film
Paul and Michelle
Sir Henry
1974
Film
Missile X: The Neutron Bomb Incident
Alec Franklin
1979
Film
High Seas Hijack
Elliott Rhoades
1977
Film
Where Have All the People Gone
Steven Anders
1974
Film
A Stranger in My Arms
Donald Beasley
1959
Film
Dead Man on the Run
Jim Gideon
1975
Film
Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty
TV Director
1980
Film
Killers from Space
Douglas Martin
1954
Film
300 Miles for Stephanie
Capt. McIntyre
1981
Jerry Lewis: The Last American Clown
Self - Host
1996
Film
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
Self - Narrator (voice)
1995
Film
The All Star Spangled Mission
1973
Film
Doris Day: It's Magic
Narrator
1998
Film
The Demon Lover
Ponsonby
1986
Film
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
Self (uncredited)
1968
Film
Gene Tierney: A Shattered Portrait
Self - Host
1999
Film
Call to Danger
Doug Warfield
1973
Film
Scream of the Wolf
John Wetherby
1974
Gettysburg - An American Story
Narrator
2014
Film
Parts: The Clonus Horror
Jeff Knight
1979
Film
Wolf Larsen
Van Weyden
1958
Film
Mission: Impossible - The Bunker
James Phelps
1969
Film
Fury
Jim Newton
1955
Film
Sidecar Racers
Carson
1975
Mystery Reel
2022
Film
Hold Back The Night
Lt. Lee Couzens
1956
Film
The Mysterious Monsters
Himself - Narrator
1976
Aliens from Space
Doug Martin
Film
The Guns and the Fury
Mark Janser
1983
Film
Abbott & Costello Meet Biography
Self - Host
1996
Film
Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker
Self - Host
1995
Film
Mission: Impossible - The Falcon
James Phelps
1970
Under the Law: Arrest and Seize
Narration
1973
Film
Rogue River
Pete Dandridge
1951
Film
America on the Move 1876-2000
Host
2003
Don't Ask Don't Tell
2002
Shirley Temple: The Biggest Little Star
Narrator
1996
Film
Linda Darnell: Hollywood's Fallen Angel
Narrator
1999
Film
Gallegher Goes West
Marshal Neimeyer
1966
Film
William Shakespeare: A Life of Drama
1996
Film
Race for Survival
Narrator
1978
Film
Darkstar: Terror at the Edge of Time
Narrator
2010
Film
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Featuring Audra McDonald and Peter Graves
Self
2005
Film
Behind the Legend: Timon
Himself - Host
2004
Film
Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell
Narrator
1996
Film
Mission: Impossible - The Controllers
Jim Phelps
1969
Film
Charlie Chaplin: A Tramp's Life
Self - Narrator
1998
Film
What a Difference a Day Made: Doris Day Superstar
Self
2009
Film
Mission: Impossible - The Golden Serpent
Jim Phelps
1989
The Complete Churchill
Presenter
1992
Film
Sleeping Dog
Sir Geoffrey
1967
Film
The Unexplained: Witches, Werewolves & Vampires
Host
1994