One year ago: Peter Graves of ‘Mission: Impossible’ and ‘Airplane!’

 Peter Graves was a television star who made light of his image in a memorably comic movie role.

Graves was known to a generation of television viewers as James Phelps in the show "Mission: Impossible." But he joined other actors known for their serious images—Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges and Robert Stack—in the 1980 spoof "Airplane!"

He almost didn't do it.

"I read it and thought, 'Gee, this is dangerous,' " Graves told The Times in late 2009. "It was in terrible taste."

But the film's producer, Howard Koch, urged him to meet with the young filmmakers, David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker, who told him that they wanted somebody of stature and dignity to play the role "absolutely straight," Graves recalled.

"They say you are supposed to stretch as an actor, so let's go stretch it," he said.

Graves, who starred in more than 70 television series and feature films, typically playing the straight-laced hero, died a year ago at 83.

 

--Keith Thursby

 

RELATED:

 

Peter Graves dies at 83

Classic Hollywood: 60 years in show business 

Photos: A look back at Graves' career

Hollywood walk of fame

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[kindlady1]

Peter Graves was a dear, sweet man and actor and my childhood hero. I grew up watching him as a 9 year old on FURY and followed his career to the end. He inspired me and in fact, we used to correspond and exchange letters, a rarity today. I was privleged to meet him many times and in fact, when my career turned to Hollywood, I would run into him often at Columbia Pictures lot where he'd be guest starring on FANTASY ISLAND. He invited me onto the set of MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE upon my moving to California. I was thrilled by his graciousness. My heart goes out to his widow Joan and his grown children. I am sure they miss him, but know he left a legacy behind him.

[Will Carson]

I also feel the loss of someone who was present in my life. Last saw him at a speaking event at a film festival in which he choose to play to those many in the audience the film 'airplane' Best wishes to his family.