"Mission: Impossible" star Peter Graves dead at 83

[Thomas Veil]

'Mission: Impossible' actor Peter Graves found dead

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Actor Peter Graves, best known for his starring role on TV's "Mission: Impossible," was found dead Sunday at his home, according to a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department. He was 83.

There was no sign of foul play in the actor's death, officer Karen Rayner said.

Graves portrayed the character Jim Phelps for all but one of the seven years "Mission: Impossible" ran on CBS, from 1967-1973. He won a Golden Globe in 1971 for his work on the show, and he was also nominated for an Emmy.

He reprised the role from 1988 to 1990 when the show resurfaced on ABC.

In an interview with CNN in 1996, Graves expressed disappointment with Hollywood's movie version of "Mission: Impossible" -- starring Tom Cruise -- which included none of the stars from the original TV series. Actor Jon Voigt played the Phelps character.

"I am sorry that they chose to call him Phelps," he said at the time. "They could have solved that very easily by either having me in a scene in the very beginning, or reading a telegram from me saying, 'Hey boys, I'm retired, gone to Hawaii. Thank you, good-bye, you take over now.'"

Graves also appeared as Capt. Clarence Oveur in the 1980 movie spoof "Airplane!" -- a role he originally turned down, according to the Web's Internet Movie Database. He changed his mind after meeting with the film's writers, according to IMDb.

Sad. He was one of those actors I would watch no matter what role he played.

Thanks, Peter, for all the hours you entertained us. You'll be missed.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Sad. He was one of those actors I would watch no matter what role he played.

Thanks, Peter, for all the hours you entertained us. You'll be missed.

Agreed, I really liked him.

 

[MacDawg]

Airplane = Classic

RIP Mr. Phelps

 

[rhett7660]

Airplane = Classic

RIP Mr. Phelps

"Do you like watching Gladiator movies"

Loved him in Airplane.

Very sad..... RIP.

 

[yg17]

"Do you like watching Gladiator movies"

Loved him in Airplane.

Very sad..... RIP.

Have you ever seen a grown man naked?

RIP

 

[dmr727]

Aw bummer.

RIP Captain Oveur.

 

[Thomas Veil]

Loved him in Airplane.

One of the comments below the article was incredibly tacky yet hilarious.

In reference to Mr. Graves: "He must've had the fish."

 

[sushi]

RIP Captain Oveur.

Well said.

One of the comments below the article was incredibly tacky yet hilarious.

In reference to Mr. Graves: "He must've had the fish."

Snort!

Enjoyed many of his movies and of course Mission Impossible.

He will be missed, but his legacy will live on.

Didn't realize that James Arness (Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke) was his older brother.

RIP Mr. Phelps.

 

[rdowns]

This thread will self destruct in five seconds.

RIP.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

"Do you like watching Gladiator movies"

Loved him in Airplane.

Very sad..... RIP.

You beat me to it

RIP

 

[Teh Don Ditty]

Very sad.

Loved him in Airplane!

 

[Doctor Q]

Graves in the grave

Good mourning Mr. Phelps. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to enjoy the afterlife. As always, should you be resurrected, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.

Mission:Impossible and Airplane are a funny combination to be remembered by. He also hosted the Biography TV show. I like that he wasn't afraid to make fun of himself.

Graves didn't think much of the Mission:Impossible movie and neither did I. He didn't like that Jim Phelps had been turned into a bad guy. I didn't like that they changed the great theme song from 5/4 to 4/4.