While growing up in Minnesota, Peter Graves 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 U.S. 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. Numerous film appearances followed, especially in Westerns. Graves is primarily recognized for his television work, however, particularly as Jim Phelps in Mission: Impossible.


Daughters with Endress: Kelly, Claudia and Amanda Graves. He directed the "Which Dr." episode of "Gunsmoke" (1955), his older brother James Arness being the star of that series. Uncle of Craig Aurness, Rolf Aurness and Jenny Lee Arness. Interviewed in "Earth vs. the Sci-Fi Filmmakers" by Tom Weaver (McFarland, 2005). Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.