Peter Graves and Jim Arness: Brothers on TV By: Roger Friedman // Monday March 15, 2010
Peter Graves died Sunday age 83. He was the gray haired, suave, deep voiced star of the Mission: Impossible TV series on CBS from 1967 to 1973. Graves was also the younger brother of James Arness, who was Marshall Dillon Gunsmoke on CBS from 1955 to 1975. They were probably the only siblings ever to star in simultaneous long running hits on any network. Arness, 87, is still alive. http://showbiz411.blogs.thr.com
Graves has loads of credits besides MI, but his long running role as Jim Phelps left an indelible impression. He took over as the shows lead after married actors Martin Landau and Barbara Bain bolted the series over a contract dispute. Graves stayed til the end and even starred in a reunion series in 1988. Nevertheless, he was never asked to do even a cameo in any of the three big screen adaptations of the series with Tom Cruise.
My favorite Peter Graves performance: as the stone faced but hilarious Captain Oveur in Airplane! and its sequel. His co-star was Lloyd Bridges, the late father of newly minted Oscar-winner Jeff Bridges. Whatever you do, dont call either of them Shirley.
This was Atomic Monster weekend, and so screened the otherwise forgettable “Then” - and we noted several ‘stars’ who got their first break in these B movies.
Peter had a starring role. And we did get the ants in time.
SOmetimes you see so manyodd things in the old movies, like how bad the aiin LA was in 1958...