Peter Graves
Known for

Acting

Credits

159

Gender

Man

Birthday

Mar 18, 1926

Day of death

Mar 14, 2010 (83)

Place of birth

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Also known as
Peter Duesler Aurness

Peter Graves

Biography

Peter Graves was born Peter Duesler Aurness on March 18, 1926 on Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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.

Known for
Acting roles
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
2022Mystery Reel
2014Gettysburg - An American StoryNarrator
2009What a Difference a Day Made: Doris Day SuperstarSelf
2005American Dad!Mr. Pibb (voice)
2005MinoriteamSheldon Miller
2005Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Featuring Audra McDonald and Peter GravesSelf
2004HouseMyron
2004The 50 Worst Movies Ever MadeDr. Doug Paul Martin (archive footage)
2004Behind the Legend: TimonHimself - Host
2003Looney Tunes: Back in ActionHost of Civil Defense Film
2003Cold CaseAnton Bikker (2006)
2003America on the Move 1876-2000Host
2002Men in Black IIPeter Graves
2002Charles Laughton Directs 'The Night of the Hunter'Self (archive footage)
2001These Old BroadsBill
1999House on Haunted HillHimself
1999Mickey Mouse Works
1999Gene Tierney: A Shattered PortraitSelf - Host
1999Linda Darnell: Hollywood's Fallen AngelNarrator
1998Doris Day: It's MagicNarrator
1998Charlie Chaplin: A Tramp's LifeSelf - Narrator
1997The Angry Beavers
1997Mother Teresa: A Life of DevotionHimself - Host
19967th HeavenJohn "Colonel" Camden
1996Jerry Lewis: The Last American ClownHost
1996Abbott & Costello Meet BiographyHost
1996William Shakespeare: A Life of Drama
1995Screen Actors Guild Awards
1995Betty Boop: Queen of the CartoonsSelf - Narrator (voice)
1995Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century FilmmakerSelf - Host
1994Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal GoddessSelf - Host
1994Burke's LawGeneral Prescott
1994The Unexplained: Witches, Werewolves & VampiresHost
1993Addams Family ValuesHost
1993Diagnosis: MurderPeter Graves
1993Unauthorized Biographies with Peter GravesSelf - Narrator
1992The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1988Mission: ImpossibleJim Phelps
1988War and RemembrancePalmer Kirby
1987Number One with a BulletCapt. Ferris
1986Horrible HorrorDr. Doug Paul Martin in 'Killers from Space'
1986Life with LucyBen Marshall
1985The Golden GirlsJerry Kennedy
1984Murder, She WroteEdmund Gerard
1984Aces Go Places III: Our Man from Bond StreetTom Collins
1984Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense
1983The Winds of WarPalmer 'Fred' Kirby
1983The Guns and the FuryMark Janser
1982Airplane II: The SequelCapt. Clarence Oveur
1982Savannah SmilesHarland Dobbs
1981Simon & Simon
1981300 Miles for StephanieCapt. McIntyre
1980Airplane!Captain Clarence Oveur
1980Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not PrettyTV Director
1980The Memory of Eva RykerMike Rogers
1979Buck Rogers in the 25th CenturyMajor Noah Cooper
1979Parts: The Clonus HorrorJeff Knight
1979Death Car on the FreewayLt. Haller
1979Missile X: The Neutron Bomb IncidentAlec Franklin
1979Survival RunKandaris
1979The RebelsGeorge Washington
1978Race for SurvivalNarrator
1977The Love BoatGerald Whitney
1977The Love BoatLeonard Culver
1977The Love BoatCarl Lawrence
1977SST: Death FlightPaul Whitley
1977High Seas HijackElliott Rhoades
1976The Mysterious MonstersHimself - Narrator
1976The Sonny & Cher Show
1975Sidecar RacersCarson
1975Dead Man on the RunJim Gideon
1974Where Have All the People GoneSteven Anders
1974Scream of the WolfJohn Wetherby
1974Paul and MichelleSir Henry
1974Dinah!Self
1974The Underground ManLew Archer
1973The Dean Martin Celebrity RoastsSelf
1973The President's Plane Is MissingMark Jones
1973Call to DangerDoug Warfield
1971Funny Face
1970The AdventurersTrustee Banker
1969The Assassination BureauDragomiloff's Butler (uncredited)
1969The 5-Man ArmyDutchman
1969Mission: Impossible vs. the MobJim Phelps
1968The Ballad of JosieJason Meredith
1968The Movie OrgySelf (archive footage)
1968The Dean Martin Christmas ShowSelf (uncredited)
1968Sergeant RykerMaj. Whitaker
1968Premiere
1967The InvadersGavin Lewis
1967I'll Never Forget What's'isnameBankman
1967Valley of MysteryBen Barstow
1966Mission: ImpossibleJim Phelps
1966Texas Across the RiverCapt. Stimpson
1966Gallegher Goes WestMarshal Neimeyer
1965The F.B.I.Manning Fryes
1965The Dean Martin Show
1965Branded
1965Laredo
1965A Rage to LiveJack Hollister
1965Run for Your LifeJim Carlson
1965Court MartialMajor Frank Whittaker
1964Daniel BooneLogan Harris
196412 O'Clock High
1963Kraft Suspense TheatreMaj. Frank Whitaker
1963The Farmer's Daughter
1963The Great AdventureDaniel Boone
1962The Alfred Hitchcock HourMark Needham
1962The VirginianRobert Gaynor
1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf
1961WhiplashChristopher Cobb
1960Route 66
1959A Stranger in My ArmsDonald Beasley
1958Cimarron City
1958Wolf LarsenVan Weyden
1957Beginning of the EndDr. Ed Wainwright
1957Death in Small DosesAgent / Tom Kaylor
1957BayouMartin Davis
1956It Conquered the WorldDr. Paul Nelson
1956Canyon RiverBob Andrews
1956Hold Back The NightLt. Lee Couzens
1955The Night of the HunterBen Harper
1955WichitaMorgan Earp
1955The Long Gray LineRudolph Heinz
1955The Court-Martial of Billy MitchellCapt. Bob Elliott
1955The Naked StreetJoe McFarland
1955Fort YumaLt. Ben Keegan
1955FuryJim Newton
1955Robbers' RoostHeesman
1955Matinee Theater
1955The MillionairePaul Hartley
1955Celebrity Playhouse
1954Killers from SpaceDouglas Martin
1954The RaidCapt. Frank Dwyer
1954Black TuesdayPeter Manning
1954Climax!Stanley
1954Climax!Steve Baxter
1954The Yellow TomahawkSawyer
1954Studio 57
1953Stalag 17Sgt. Frank Price
1953Beneath the 12-Mile ReefArnold Dix
1953War PaintTrooper Tolson
1953East of SumatraCowboy
1953The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
1952Red Planet MarsChris Cronyn
1952Cavalcade of AmericaMaj. Tom Howie
1952Biff Baker U.S.A.
1952The Congregation
1951Angels in the OutfieldRadio Announcer (uncredited)
1951Fort DefianceNed Tallon
1951Hallmark Hall of FameDr. James Ewing
1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsRocky Kent
1951Rogue RiverPete Dandridge
1950Lux Video TheatreJoel Barker
1950FuryJim Newton
1949Fireside Theater
1948The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf
1948Studio OneGlenn Willis
Credits
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
1966Mission: ImpossibleDirector