Peter Graves
Biography
Peter Graves was born Peter Duesler Arness 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.
83years old at death
- Born Minneapolis
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- Peter Duesler Aurness (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 27
- Career span
- 50 years1951 to 2001
First and latest
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Big break
Graves was recruited by Desilu Studios in 1967 to replace Steven Hill as the lead of Mission: Impossible, taking over the role of Jim Phelps for the six seasons that followed.
A role that slipped away
Graves turned down the chance to play Jim Phelps again in the 1996 Mission: Impossible film once the character was written as the traitor and villain.
A change of course
At Southwest High School, Graves won the Minnesota state track championship in the 120 yard high hurdles twice. He graduated from Southwest in 1944.
Peter Graves movies on Netflix
These Old Broadsas Bill
House on Haunted Hillas Himself
Airplane II: The Sequelas Captain Oveur
Savannah Smilesas Harland Dobbs
Airplane!as Captain Oveur
Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Prettyas TV Director
Parts: The Clonus Horroras Jeff Knight
Mission: Impossible vs. the Mobas Jim Phelps
The Five Man Armyas Dutchman
The Ballad of Josieas Jason Meredith
Texas Across the Riveras Capt. Stimpson
Beginning of the Endas Dr. Ed Wainwright
It Conquered the Worldas Dr. Paul Nelson
Fort Yumaas Lt. Ben Keegan
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchellas Capt. Bob Elliott
The Long Gray Lineas Corporal Rudolph Heinz
The Naked Streetas Joe McFarland
The Night of the Hunteras Ben Harper
Wichitaas Morgan Earp
Black Tuesdayas Peter Manning
Killers from Spaceas Dr. Doug Paul Martin
The Raidas Capt. Frank Dwyer
Beneath the 12-Mile Reefas Arnold Dix
Stalag 17as Sgt. Frank Price
War Paintas Trooper Tolson
Red Planet Marsas Chris Cronyn
Fort Defianceas Ned Tallon
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Hugo Fregonese directed two of these films, Lesley Selander two. Lloyd Bridges appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.







Films together
Lloyd Bridges3 films together, 1955 to 1982
Lloyd Bridges's page Airplane II: The Sequel1982IMDb rating 6.2Graves as Captain OveurBridges as McCroskey
Airplane!1980IMDb rating 7.7Graves as Captain OveurBridges as McCroskey
Wichita1955IMDb rating 6.9Graves as Morgan EarpBridges as Gyp Clements
Harry Carey Jr.2 films together, 1953 to 1955
Harry Carey Jr.'s page The Long Gray Line1955IMDb rating 7.2Graves as Corporal Rudolph HeinzCarey as Dwight D. Eisenhower
Beneath the 12-Mile Reef1953IMDb rating 5.6Graves as Arnold DixCarey as Griff Rhys
Morris Ankrum2 films together, 1952 to 1957
Morris Ankrum's page Beginning of the End1957IMDb rating 4.2Graves as Dr. Ed WainwrightAnkrum as Gen. John Hanson
Red Planet Mars1952IMDb rating 4.9Graves as Chris CronynAnkrum as Secretary of Defense Sparks
Anne Bancroft2 films together, 1954 to 1955
Anne Bancroft's page The Naked Street1955IMDb rating 6.5Graves as Joe McFarlandBancroft as Rosalie Regalzyk
The Raid1954IMDb rating 6.9Graves as Capt. Frank DwyerBancroft as Katy Bishop
Don Beddoe2 films together, 1955 to 1966
Don Beddoe's page Texas Across the River1966IMDb rating 6.2Graves as Capt. StimpsonBeddoe as Mr. Naylor
The Night of the Hunter1955IMDb rating 7.9Graves as Ben HarperBeddoe as Walt Spoon
Willis Bouchey2 films together, 1952 to 1955
Willis Bouchey's page The Long Gray Line1955IMDb rating 7.2Graves as Corporal Rudolph HeinzBouchey as Major Thomas
Red Planet Mars1952IMDb rating 4.9Graves as Chris CronynBouchey as President
Hugo FregoneseDirector, 2 films, 1954
All films by Hugo Fregonese Black Tuesday1954IMDb rating 6.8Graves as Peter Manning
The Raid1954IMDb rating 6.9Graves as Capt. Frank Dwyer
Lesley SelanderDirector, 2 films, 1953 to 1955
Also two films together17 more actors
- Richard BooneThe Raid (1954) and Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
- Julie HagertyAirplane II: The Sequel (1982) and Airplane! (1980)
- Walter SandeWichita (1955) and Red Planet Mars (1952)
- Robert J. WilkeWichita (1955) and War Paint (1953)
- Robert StackAirplane! (1980) and War Paint (1953)
- Milburn StoneThe Long Gray Line (1955) and Black Tuesday (1954)
- Roy EngelThe Night of the Hunter (1955) and Killers from Space (1954)
- Robert HaysAirplane II: The Sequel (1982) and Airplane! (1980)
- James SeayBeginning of the End (1957) and Killers from Space (1954)
- Lee AakerBlack Tuesday (1954) and The Raid (1954)
- Vic PerrinMission: Impossible vs. the Mob (1969) and Black Tuesday (1954)
- Frank AshmoreAirplane! (1980) and Parts: The Clonus Horror (1979)
- Lee BryantAirplane II: The Sequel (1982) and Airplane! (1980)
- Joan TaylorFort Yuma (1955) and War Paint (1953)
- Keith LarsenWichita (1955) and War Paint (1953)
- James DalyThe Five Man Army (1969) and The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955)
- Stephen StuckerAirplane II: The Sequel (1982) and Airplane! (1980)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Peter Graves's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$164 million
5 of the 27 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 27 films: 5 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 2 never in cinemas; 17 figure not found.
- 5Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 2Never in cinemas
- 17Figure not found
Top grosser

Highest grossing
The five biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$83M50.7% of the total
- 2$41M24.8% of the total
- 3$27M16.5% of the total
- 4$10M6.1% of the total
- 5$3.0M1.8% of the total
Awards
Five awards and honors, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special | Won | ||
| Other honors | |||
| 1970 | Golden Plate Award | Won | |
| American Campaign Medal | Won | ||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
| World War II Victory Medal | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.










