Peter Graves

Peter Graves Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: March 18, 1926

Death Date: March 14, 2010

Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Few actors were able to convey a sense of gravitas like the tall, dignified Peter Graves. Brother of actor James Arness, Graves was readily remembered as one of the hosts on "Biography" (A&E, 1987-2006), where he solemnly intoned about the lives of public figures for over a decade. Prior to "Biography," Graves was a film and television star whose heyday came in the late-1960s with the hip Cold War spy drama, "Mission: Impossible" (CBS, 1966-1973). Before stardom, the actor struggled to make a name for himself by starring in a series of schlock horror films, some of which were lampooned on the cult series, "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (KTMA-Comedy Central-Sci Fi Channel, 1988-1999). Regardless of such inauspicious beginnings, Graves was unafraid to poke fun of his persona, which he did to hilarious effect as the captain of a doomed passenger jet in "Airplane" (1980) and "Airplane II: The Sequel" (1982). Though not known for any award-worthy performances, Graves became engrained in pop culture - both as an understated comedic actor as well as a gifted dramatic performer.

Credits

Cheap Thrills: Those Drive-in Horror Flicks

Actor
Dr. Paul Larson
Show
2014

What a Difference a Day Made: Doris Day Superstar

Actor
Show
2010

Jack's Family Adventure

Actor
Uncle George Vickery
Movie
2009

Fred MacMurray: The Guy Next Door

Narrator
Show
2008

Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Audra McDonald and Peter Graves

Music Performer
Show
2005

Celebrate Christmas With Audra McDonald

Narrator
Show
2005

American DadStream

Guest Voice
Mr. Pibb
Series
2005

HouseStream

Guest Star
Myron
Series
2004
90%

Cold CaseStream

Guest Star
Series
2003

Men in Black IIStream

Actor
Himself
Movie
2002
38%

Men in Black IIStream

Self
Movie
2002
38%

These Old Broads

Actor
Bill
Movie
2001

Richard Widmark: Strength of Characters

Narrator
Show
2000

Unauthorized Biographies With Peter Graves

Host
Show
1998

7th HeavenStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

Winston Churchill

Host
Show
1996

Burke's Law

Guest Star
Show
1994

Diagnosis MurderStream

Guest Star
Series
1993

Addams Family ValuesStream

Actor
Host
Movie
1993
75%

War and Remembrance

Guest Star
Palmer Kirby
Show
1988

Mission: Impossible

Actor
Show
1988

Biography

Host
News
1987

Number One With a Bullet

Actor
Capt. Ferris
Movie
1987

The Golden GirlsStream

Guest Star
Jerry Scott
Series
1985

Tennis Court

Actor
Vicar John Bray
Movie
1985

Murder She WroteStream

Guest Star
Dr. Edmund Gerard
Series
1984

Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense

Actor
Vicar John Bray
Show
1984

The Guns and the Fury

Actor
Mark Janser
Movie
1983

Airplane II: The Sequel

Actor
Capt. Clarence Oveur
Movie
1982

Savannah Smiles

Actor
Harland Dobbs
Movie
1982

Simon & Simon

Guest Star
Wade Christian
Series
1981

Three Hundred Miles for Stephanie

Actor
Captain McIntyre
Movie
1981

The Memory of Eva Ryker

Actor
Show
1980

Airplane!Stream

Actor
Captain Clarence Oveur
Movie
1980
97%

The Memory of Eva Ryker

Actor
Mike Rogers
Movie
1980

Death Car on the Freeway

Actor
Lieutenant Haller
Movie
1979

Parts: The Clonus Horror

Actor
Jeff Knight
Movie
1979

Survival Run

Actor
Kandaris
Movie
1979

The Comedy Shop

Guest
Show
1978

Fantasy Island

Guest Star
Series
1978

High Seas Hijack

Actor
Elliott Rhoades
Movie
1978

The Clonus Horror

Actor
Jeff Knight
Movie
1978

Cruise Missile

Actor
Alec Franklin
Movie
1978

The Gift of the Magi

Actor
O. Henry
Movie
1978

SST: Death Flight

Actor
Paul Whitley
Movie
1977

New York-Paris, Supersonic en péril

Actor
Movie
1977

Dean's Place

Actor
Show
1976

The Mysterious Monsters

Narrator
Movie
1976

Dead Man on the Run

Actor
Jim Gideon
Movie
1975

Sidecar Racers

Actor
Carson
Movie
1975

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Telly Savalas

Guest
Show
1974

TattletalesStream

Guest
Game Show
1974

The Underground Man

Actor
Lew Archer
Movie
1974

Scream of the Wolf

Actor
John Wetherby
Movie
1974

Where Have All the People Gone?

Actor
Steven Anders
Movie
1974

L'Avion du Président a disparu

Actor
Movie
1974

Call to Danger

Actor
Doug Warfield
Movie
1973

The Hunter

Actor
John Wetherby
Movie
1973

The President's Plane Is Missing

Actor
Mark Jones
Movie
1971

スパイ大作戦/薔薇の秘密指令

Actor
Movie
1969

The Five Man Army

Actor
Dutchman
Movie
1969

Call to Danger

Actor
Jim Kingsley
Show
1968

Sergeant Ryker

Actor
Maj. Whitaker
Movie
1968

The Ballad of Josie

Actor
Jason Meredith
Movie
1968

Valley of Mystery

Actor
Ben Barstow
Movie
1967

Mission: ImpossibleStream

Actor
James Phelps
Series
1966

Court-Martial

Actor
Major Frank Whitaker
Show
1966

Texas Across the River

Actor
Capt. Rodney Stimpson
Movie
1966

Laredo

Guest Star
Series
1965

Branded

Guest Star
Series
1965

A Rage to Live

Actor
Jack Hollister
Movie
1965

12 O'Clock High

Guest Star
Show
1964

The Case Against Paul Ryker

Actor
Major Frank Whittaker
Show
1963

The Farmer's Daughter

Guest Star
Congressman
Series
1963

Alfred Hitchcock HourStream

Actor
Series
1962

The VirginianStream

Guest Star
Robert Gaynor
Series
1962

Route 66Stream

Guest Star
Series
1960

Whiplash

Actor
Chris Cobb
Show
1960

Stranger in My Arms

Actor
Donald Ashton Beasley
Movie
1959

Wolf Larsen

Actor
Van Weyden
Movie
1958

Beginning of the End

Actor
Dr. Ed Wainwright
Movie
1957

Death in Small Doses

Actor
Agent Tom Kaylor
Movie
1957

Bayou

Actor
Martin Davis
Movie
1957

It Conquered the World

Actor
Dr. Paul Nelson
Movie
1956

Hold Back the Night

Actor
Lt. Lee Couzens
Movie
1956

Canyon River

Actor
Bob Andrews
Movie
1956

FuryStream

Actor
Jim Newton
Series
1955

Robbers' Roost

Actor
Heesman
Movie
1955

The Long Gray Line

Actor
Cpl. Rudolph Heinz
Movie
1955

Fort YumaStream

Actor
Lt/ Ben Keegan
Movie
1955

The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell

Actor
Capt. Bob Elliott
Movie
1955

The Night of the HunterStream

Actor
Ben Harper
Movie
1955
93%

The Naked Street

Actor
Joe McFarland
Movie
1955

Wichita

Actor
Morgan
Movie
1955

Black Tuesday

Actor
Peter Manning
Movie
1955

Climax!Stream

Actor
Series
1954

Studio 57

Actor
Show
1954

Killers From Space

Actor
Dr. Doug Paul Martin
Movie
1954

The Yellow Tomahawk

Actor
Sawyer
Movie
1954

The Raid

Actor
Capt. Frank Dwyer
Movie
1954

Pepsi-Cola Playhouse

Actor
Show
1953

Beneath the 12-Mile Reef

Actor
Arnold Dix
Movie
1953

War Paint

Actor
Trooper Tolson
Movie
1953

Stalag 17Stream

Actor
Price
Movie
1953
91%

East of Sumatra

Actor
Cowboy
Movie
1953

The Best of This Is Your Life

Guest
Show
1952

TodayStream

Guest
News
1952

Red Planet Mars

Actor
Chris Cronyn
Movie
1952

Fort Defiance

Actor
Ned Tallon
Movie
1951

Rogue River

Actor
Pete Dandridge
Movie
1950

Studio OneStream

Actor
Glenn
Series
1948

I'll Be Your Sweetheart

Actor
Jim Knight
Movie
1945

News about
Peter Graves