Peter Graves, Spymaster and Host, Is Dead at 83

The New York Times ^ | March 14, 2010 | MICHAEL POLLAK

[Brandonmark]

Peter Graves, the cool spymaster of television’s “Mission Impossible” and the dignified host of the “Biography” series, who successfully spoofed his own gravitas in the “Airplane” movie farces, died Sunday. He was 83.

He died of a heart attack at his home in Pacific Palisades, Calif., said Fred Barman, his business manager.

It was a testament to Mr. Graves’s earnest, unhammy ability to make fun of himself that after decades of playing square he-men and straitlaced authority figures, he was perhaps best known to younger audiences for a deadpan line in “Airplane!” (“Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?”) and one from a memorable Geico car insurance commercial (“I was one lucky woman”).

Born Peter Aurness in Minneapolis, the blond, 6-foot-2 Mr. Graves served in the Army Air Force in 1944-45, studied drama at the University of Minnesota under the G.I. Bill and played the clarinet in local bands before following his older brother, James Arness, to Hollywood

[Poser]

I like to remember him as the dad on the "Fury" program on Saturday mornings during the 1950's. Here's a photo with Graves as Jim Newton, the dad.

[MplsSteve]

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[Moonman62]

I loved Peter Graves. I met his brother, James Arness, one time, and he was a really nice man.

From what I read on IMDB, James is a Republican and was a friend of John Wayne and Reagan.

[Poser]

“From what I read on IMDB, James is a Republican and was a friend of John Wayne and Reagan. “

And lived next door to Dick Nixon in San Clemente.

[DLfromthedesert]

Wow!!! He still looked so good in his latest commercials. Go with God, beautiful man.

[LouAvul]

Joey, you like movies about gladiators?

[Rockingham]

I believe that Graves’ last role was a comic turn in an episode of House. He played a older patient in good health, with a wife and a mistress, who wanted a script for fake Viagra so he could cuddle instead of performing. Graves played it perfectly: dignified, earnest, embarrassed, and vague about what he really wanted.

[sig226]

Rest in peace, Peter. I waited for many Saturday nights to hear this theme.

And no, I never did like movies about gladiators. :)

[Sans-Culotte]

I loved his low-key performances in Mission: Impossible. One of my favorite lines was during one of the briefings, in which they would tantalize us about the upcoming mission: "who's got the plutonium?"

[Brandonmark]

10 Funniest Quotes from “Airplane”
#6 Peter Graves (Gladiator)
#5 Peter Graves (Roger/Roger)
#1 Peter Graves (Naked Man):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIAUbPDgaAg&feature=related

[taraytarah]

I met his brother, James Arness...

Thank you for that comment, I was just looking at his picture in post #6, and noticing how much he looks like James, wondering if they were related.

[happygrl]

Another truly class act is gone.

RIP Mr. Graves.

You brought the best of Hollywood to us.

[Oztrich Boy]

He worked in Amurrica too?

Whiplash

Whiplash, Whiplash, Whiplash, Whiplash
In 1851 the Great Australian gold rush
The only law a gun, the only shelter wildbush
Whiplash, Whiplash
The Mulga woods and deserts, the stage thunders by
From Sydney to Camden and on to Gundagai
Whiplash, Whiplash

Ah All the wide brown land of mulga and desert from Camden to Gundagai.

[oh8eleven]

Brilliant work in Stalag 17, but absolute perfection in Airplane.
IIRC, he originally turned down the Airplane role and had to be talked into taking it.
He was really worried the role would damage his reputation and legacy.

[Clintonfatigued]

The original Mission Impossible was a great show. RIP to a great actor.

[AuH2ORepublican]

I will always remember Peter Graves as “Security” in “Stalag 17,” one of the greatest movies ever made about WWII. If you haven’t seen this Billy Wilder classic starring William Holden, you should check the Turner Classic Movies listings, because they show it on a fairly regular basis.

May he rest in peace.

[brivette]

I especially liked “I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue”.

[Impy]

I hope he’s in a better place now. A place that’s nothing like a Turkish prison. Or the set of the show “7th Heaven”.

RIP