James Arness Brother Peter Graves Dies
March 15, 2010
James Arness Brother Peter Graves Dies:Sad news reaches us this morning of the death of Peter Graves, star of TV’s ‘Mission Impossible’. The popular actor died yesterday outside his home, apparently suffering from a heart attack, just before his 84th birthday. Graves was with his wife of 60 years at the time, according to Sandy Brokaw, his publicist.
Peter Graves was perhaps best known as renowned character Jim Phelps in ‘Mission Impossible’, after first becoming known in the 1950’s series ‘Fury’. He appeared in many films and TV roles over the years and was critically acclaimed for his astounding performance as a Nazi spy in Billy Wilder’s film ‘Stalag 17’.
His popularity received another upsurge in the 1980’s when he sent up his straight character with a masterful comedic performance in the spoof disaster movie, ‘Airplane!’ His career spanned 60 years and in his later life he became a trusted figure in commercials, with many people saying he should go into politics.
His older brother was James Arness, who shot to fame as Marshall Matt Dillon in TV’s ‘Gunsmoke’. Graves changed his name to that of his grandfather’s to avoid confusion with his older sibling. He later said of the Airplane films that he had been worried about taking the role sending up his previously serious image commenting, “I thought I could lose a whole long acting career”.
Peter Graves Dies At Los Angeles
March 15, 2010
Peter Graves Dies At Los Angeles:The actor Peter Graves, best known for his roles in the ‘Airplane’ films and ‘Mission: Impossible’ TV series, has died.
Graves, who was 83, died of a suspected heart attack outside his Los Angeles home, his publicist told the Associated Press.
He had just returned from brunch with his family when he collapsed and one of his daughters, who administered CPR, was unable to revive him.
Born Peter Aurness, Graves was a World War Two veteran who studied drama as part of the GI Bill of Rights after the war and then embarked on a six-decade career.
He is survived by his wife, Joan Graves, who he met in college, and three daughters.
Mission Impossible:Star Peter Graves Dies In L.A.
March 15, 2010
Mission Impossible:Star Peter Graves Dies In L.A.:LOS ANGELES: Actor Peter Graves, who starred in the 1960s TV show “Mission Impossible” and the “Airplane!” movies, died in Los Angeles on Sunday. He was 83.
Graves’ spokesman said the actor died of an apparent heart attack at his house in the coastal suburb of Pacific Palisades. He had returned home after attending a family brunch to celebrate his upcoming birthday on Thursday.
The younger brother of “Gunsmoke” actor Jim Arness, Graves gained widespread recognition in 1967, when he took the role as leader of the “Impossible Missions Force” on popular TV spy drama “Mission: Impossible.”
He portrayed Jim Phelps, who would receive his team’s next mission instructions on a tape that would self-destruct in a puff of smoke. Graves stayed on the U.S. series until it was cancelled in 1973, then later reprised the role in a TV revival from 1988-1990.
Graves is perhaps better known to modern audiences for his deadpan comedic role in 1980 spoof “Airplane!” in which he played the not-so-subtle pedophile pilot of a seemingly doomed jet.
The actor often told a story that he initially wanted to turn down the role, but was talked into it after being convinced by the filmmakers that his dry, deadpan delivery was exactly what was needed to make the spoof work.
Graves appeared in about 130 films and television shows.
In recent years, he hosted U.S. cable TV series, including the A&E Network’s long-running historical series, “Biography.”
Born Peter Aurness on March 18, 1926, in Minneapolis, Graves worked at a local radio station as a teenager and later attended the University of Minnesota, where he majored in drama.
He made his film debut in the 1951 crime drama “Rogue River,” and two years later won acclaim portraying a German spy placed among allied prisoners of war in “Stalag 17.”
In one of his early TV credits, Graves portrayed Jim Newton on the 1950s-era Saturday morning kids’ show “Fury,” about a horse and the boy who loved him.
Graves won a Golden Globe Award in 1971 for his work in “Mission Impossible,” and he and “Biography” won a Emmy Award for outstanding informational series in 1997.
He is survived by his wife, Joan, and three daughters.
Mission Impossible,Rip Girls
July 19, 2009
After I woke up yesterday, I made my way to the refrigerator for my morning glass of Instant Breakfast and, out of habit, glanced out the kitchen window to gaze at my lone red tomato. She was becoming more red and more plump daily. Just the evening before, I had contemplated picking her, but figured that one more night would do her some good. It was the day of harvest and I was looking forward to the first garden salad of the year.
But I saw no flash of red among the green of the garden.
I figured that CandyMan must have picked it the night before after I left for my girls night out. Of course–that made sense. So I began hunting the kitchen. Nothing. So I asked Necco if she had seen the red tomato.
“Yeah, Mom, it’s sitting on the side of the garden.”
What a tragedy. Knocked down and nibbled on by squirrels in the night.
I think I’ll be picking the rest of my tomatoes before they’re fully ripe next time.
