Peter Graves (born Peter Duesler Aurness; March 18, 1926 â€" March 14,
2010) was an American film and television actor. He was best known for
his role as Jim Phelps in the CBS television series Mission:
Impossible from 1967 to 1973 (original) and from 1988 to 1990
(revival). His elder brother was actor James Arness. Graves was also
known for his portrayal of airline pilot Captain Clarence Oveur in the
1980 comedy film Airplane! and its 1982 sequel Airplane II: The
Sequel.Peter Graves was born Peter Duesler Aurness on March 18, 1926,
in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of Rolf Cirkler Aurness
(1894â€"1982), a businessman, and his wife Ruth (née Duesler, died
1986), a journalist. Graves's ancestry was Norwegian, German, and
English. He used the stage name Graves, a maternal family name, to
honor his mother's family, and also so as to not be confused with his
older brother, James Arness, the star of the television series
Gunsmoke.Graves graduated from Southwest High School in 1944. He
served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II,
reaching the rank of corporal. After demobilization, Graves enrolled
at the University of Minnesota on the G.I. Bill, and was a member of
Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.Graves appeared in more than 70 films,
television shows, and television movies during his career. In 1955,
Graves joined the NBC television series Fury, as the rancher and
adoptive single father, Jim Newton. Graves also was featured in the
1953 World War II film, Stalag 17.
2010) was an American film and television actor. He was best known for
his role as Jim Phelps in the CBS television series Mission:
Impossible from 1967 to 1973 (original) and from 1988 to 1990
(revival). His elder brother was actor James Arness. Graves was also
known for his portrayal of airline pilot Captain Clarence Oveur in the
1980 comedy film Airplane! and its 1982 sequel Airplane II: The
Sequel.Peter Graves was born Peter Duesler Aurness on March 18, 1926,
in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of Rolf Cirkler Aurness
(1894â€"1982), a businessman, and his wife Ruth (née Duesler, died
1986), a journalist. Graves's ancestry was Norwegian, German, and
English. He used the stage name Graves, a maternal family name, to
honor his mother's family, and also so as to not be confused with his
older brother, James Arness, the star of the television series
Gunsmoke.Graves graduated from Southwest High School in 1944. He
served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II,
reaching the rank of corporal. After demobilization, Graves enrolled
at the University of Minnesota on the G.I. Bill, and was a member of
Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.Graves appeared in more than 70 films,
television shows, and television movies during his career. In 1955,
Graves joined the NBC television series Fury, as the rancher and
adoptive single father, Jim Newton. Graves also was featured in the
1953 World War II film, Stalag 17.
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