Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Born

March 18, 1926

Died

March 14, 2010 (age 83)

Place of Birth

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Also Known As

Peter Duesler Aurness

IMDb

Peter Graves

Biography

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

2022FilmMystery Reel 2014FilmGettysburg - An American Storyas Narrator 2010FilmDarkstar: Terror at the Edge of Timeas Narrator 2009FilmWhat a Difference a Day Made: Doris Day Superstaras Self 2005TVMinoriteamas Sheldon Miller 2005FilmChristmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Featuring Audra McDonald and Peter Gravesas Self 2005TVAmerican Dad!as Mr. Pibb (voice)2004TVHouseas Myron 2004FilmBehind the Legend: Timonas Himself - Host 2003FilmAmerica on the Move 1876-2000as Host 2003FilmLooney Tunes: Back in Actionas Host of Civil Defense Film 2003TVCold Caseas Anton Bikker (2006)2002FilmMen in Black IIas Peter Graves 2002FilmDon't Ask Don't Tell 2001FilmThese Old Broadsas Bill 2001TVDisney's House of Mouseas Instructor Voice (voice)1999FilmHouse on Haunted Hillas Self 1999FilmLinda Darnell: Hollywood's Fallen Angelas Narrator 1999TVMickey Mouse Works 1999FilmGene Tierney: A Shattered Portraitas Self - Host 1998FilmDoris Day: It's Magicas Narrator 1998FilmCharlie Chaplin: A Tramp's Lifeas Self - Narrator 1997TVThe Angry Beavers 1997FilmMother Teresa: A Life of Devotionas Self - Host 1996FilmShirley Temple: The Biggest Little Staras Narrator 1996TV7th Heavenas John "Colonel" Camden 1996FilmJerry Lewis: The Last American Clownas Self - Host 1996FilmWilliam Shakespeare: A Life of Drama 1996FilmJean Harlow: Platinum Bombshellas Narrator 1996FilmAbbott & Costello Meet Biographyas Self - Host 1995FilmDarryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmakeras Self - Host 1995TVThe Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRAas Self 1995FilmBetty Boop: Queen of the Cartoonsas Self - Narrator (voice)1994FilmThe Unexplained: Witches, Werewolves & Vampiresas Host 1994FilmMarilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddessas Self - Host 1994TVBurke's Lawas General Prescott 1993FilmAddams Family Valuesas Host 1993TVDiagnosis: Murderas Peter Graves 1993TVUnauthorized Biographies with Peter Gravesas Self - Narrator 1992TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno 1992TVThe Complete Churchillas Presenter 1989FilmMission: Impossible - The Golden Serpentas Jim Phelps 1988TVWar and Remembranceas Palmer Kirby 1988TVMission: Impossibleas Jim Phelps 1987TVBiographyas Self - Host 1987FilmNumber One with a Bulletas Capt. Ferris 1986TVLife with Lucyas Ben Marshall 1986FilmThe Demon Loveras Ponsonby 1985TVThe Golden Girlsas Jerry Kennedy 1984TVMurder, She Wroteas Edmund Gerard 1984TVHammer House of Mystery and Suspenseas John Bray 1984FilmAces Go Places III: Our Man from Bond Streetas Tom Collins 1983FilmThe Guns and the Furyas Mark Janser 1983TVThe Winds of Waras Palmer 'Fred' Kirby 1982FilmAirplane II: The Sequelas Capt. Clarence Oveur 1982FilmSavannah Smilesas Harland Dobbs 1981TVSimon & Simonas Wade Christian 1981Film300 Miles for Stephanieas Capt. McIntyre 1980FilmAirplane!as Capt. Clarence Oveur 1980FilmThe Memory of Eva Rykeras Mike Rogers 1980FilmSteve Martin: Comedy Is Not Prettyas TV Director 1979FilmDeath Car on the Freewayas Lt. Haller 1979TVBuck Rogers in the 25th Centuryas Major Noah Cooper 1979FilmParts: The Clonus Horroras Jeff Knight 1979TVThe Rebelsas George Washington 1979FilmSurvival Runas Kandaris 1979FilmMissile X: The Neutron Bomb Incidentas Alec Franklin 1978FilmSST: Death Flightas Paul Whitley 1978FilmRace for Survivalas Narrator 1977FilmHigh Seas Hijackas Elliott Rhoades 1977TVThe Love Boatas Gerald Whitney 1976TVThe Duchess of Duke Streetas Sir Evelyn Grant-Wortley 1976FilmThe Mysterious Monstersas Himself - Narrator 1976TVThe Sonny and Cher Show 1975FilmSidecar Racersas Carson 1975FilmDead Man on the Runas Jim Gideon 1974TVDinah!as Self 1974FilmWhere Have All the People Goneas Steven Anders 1974FilmThe Underground Manas Lew Archer 1974FilmPaul and Michelleas Sir Henry 1974FilmScream of the Wolfas John Wetherby 1973FilmThe President's Plane Is Missingas Mark Jones 1973TVThe Dean Martin Celebrity Roastsas Self 1973FilmCall to Dangeras Doug Warfield 1973FilmUnder the Law: Arrest and Seizeas Narration 1973FilmThe All Star Spangled Mission 1971TVFunny Face 1970FilmThe Adventurersas Trustee Banker 1970FilmMission: Impossible - The Falconas James Phelps 1969FilmThe 5-Man Armyas Dutchman 1969FilmMission: Impossible - The Controllersas Jim Phelps 1969FilmMission: Impossible vs. the Mobas Jim Phelps 1969FilmThe Assassination Bureauas Dragomiloff's Butler (uncredited)1969FilmMission: Impossible - The Bunkeras James Phelps 1968FilmThe Dean Martin Christmas Showas Self (uncredited)1968TVPremiere 1968FilmThe Ballad of Josieas Jason Meredith 1968FilmSergeant Rykeras Maj. Whitaker 1968FilmThe Movie Orgyas Self (archive footage)1967FilmMission: Impossible - The Slaveas Jim Phelps 1967FilmValley of Mysteryas Ben Barstow 1967TVThe Invadersas Gavin Lewis 1966FilmGallegher Goes Westas Marshal Neimeyer 1966FilmTexas Across the Riveras Capt. Stimpson 1966TVMission: Impossibleas Jim Phelps 1965FilmA Rage to Liveas Jack Hollister 1965TVThe F.B.I.as Manning Fryes 1965TVLaredo 1965TVThe Dean Martin Show 1965TVRun for Your Lifeas Jim Carlson 1965TVCourt Martialas Major Frank Whittaker 1965TVBranded 1964TVDaniel Booneas Logan Harris 1964TV12 O'Clock High 1963TVKraft Suspense Theatreas Maj. Frank Whitaker 1963TVThe Great Adventureas Daniel Boone 1963TVThe Farmer's Daughter 1962TVThe Alfred Hitchcock Houras Mark Needham 1962TVThe Virginianas Robert Gaynor 1961TVThe Mike Douglas Showas Self 1961TVWhiplashas Christopher Cobb 1960TVRoute 66 1959FilmA Stranger in My Armsas Donald Beasley 1958FilmWolf Larsenas Van Weyden 1958TVCimarron City 1957FilmDeath in Small Dosesas Agent / Tom Kaylor 1957FilmBeginning of the Endas Dr. Ed Wainwright 1957FilmBayouas Martin Davis 1956FilmCanyon Riveras Bob Andrews 1956FilmHold Back The Nightas Lt. Lee Couzens 1956FilmIt Conquered the Worldas Dr. Paul Nelson 1955FilmThe Court-Martial of Billy Mitchellas Capt. Bob Elliott 1955TVMatinee Theater 1955FilmFuryas Jim Newton 1955TVFuryas Jim Newton 1955FilmFort Yumaas Lt. Ben Keegan 1955TVCelebrity Playhouse 1955FilmThe Naked Streetas Joe McFarland 1955FilmThe Night of the Hunteras Ben Harper 1955FilmWichitaas Morgan Earp 1955FilmRobbers' Roostas Heesman 1955TVThe Millionaireas Paul Hartley 1955FilmThe Long Gray Lineas Corporal Rudolph Heinz 1954FilmBlack Tuesdayas Peter Manning 1954TVClimax!as Stanley 1954TVStudio 57as Jim Bailey 1954FilmThe Raidas Capt. Frank Dwyer 1954FilmThe Yellow Tomahawkas Sawyer 1954FilmKillers from Spaceas Douglas Martin 1953FilmBeneath the 12-Mile Reefas Arnold Dix 1953TVThe Pepsi-Cola Playhouse 1953FilmWar Paintas Trooper Tolson 1953FilmEast of Sumatraas Cowboy 1953FilmStalag 17as Sgt. Frank Price 1952TVBiff Baker U.S.A.1952TVCavalcade of Americaas Maj. Tom Howie 1952FilmRed Planet Marsas Chris Cronyn 1952FilmThe Congregation 1951TVHallmark Hall of Fameas Dr. James Ewing 1951FilmAngels in the Outfieldas Radio Announcer (uncredited)1951FilmFort Defianceas Ned Tallon 1951TVSchlitz Playhouse of Starsas Rocky Kent 1951FilmRogue Riveras Pete Dandridge 1950TVLux Video Theatreas Joel Barker 1949TVFireside Theater 1948TVStudio Oneas Glenn Willis 1948TVThe Ed Sullivan Showas Self 1944TVGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Presenter —FilmAliens from Spaceas Doug Martin