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| Mission: Impossible actor dies | Mission: Impossible actor dies |
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| Peter Graves - star of the classic TV series Mission: Impossible and disaster spoof movie Airplane! - has died in the US city of Los Angeles. He was 83. | Peter Graves - star of the classic TV series Mission: Impossible and disaster spoof movie Airplane! - has died in the US city of Los Angeles. He was 83. |
| The actor had a suspected heart attack outside his home after a meal with his family, about a week before his 84th birthday, said publicist Sandy Brokaw. | The actor had a suspected heart attack outside his home after a meal with his family, about a week before his 84th birthday, said publicist Sandy Brokaw. |
| Graves was perhaps best known for his role as special agent Jim Phelps in the popular TV series Mission: Impossible. | Graves was perhaps best known for his role as special agent Jim Phelps in the popular TV series Mission: Impossible. |
| He also played bungling pilot Clarence Oveur in the 1980 film Airplane!. | He also played bungling pilot Clarence Oveur in the 1980 film Airplane!. |
| The actor initially turned down the role but was talked round by the film-makers, who told him his dry, deadpan humour made him perfect for the spoof disaster moovie. | |
| He had just returned from lunch on Sunday with his wife and children when he collapsed before making it into the house, his publicist said. | He had just returned from lunch on Sunday with his wife and children when he collapsed before making it into the house, his publicist said. |
| He had this statesmanlike quality Sandy BrokawPublicist | |
| One of his daughters tried in vain to revive him. | One of his daughters tried in vain to revive him. |
| "He had this statesman-like quality," publicist Brokaw told AP news agency. "People were always encouraging him to run for office. But he said: 'I like acting. I like being around actors."' | |
| The police said the star had died of "natural causes" at his home. | |
| Awards | |
| Arguably his most famous role was in the long-running TV show Mission: Impossible, in which Graves led a squad of American government special agents battling evil conspirators. | Arguably his most famous role was in the long-running TV show Mission: Impossible, in which Graves led a squad of American government special agents battling evil conspirators. |
| Every show began with Graves, as Agent Phelps, listening to instructions detailing his team's latest mission on a tape, which self-destructed within seconds of being played. | Every show began with Graves, as Agent Phelps, listening to instructions detailing his team's latest mission on a tape, which self-destructed within seconds of being played. |
| The show ran on CBS from 1967 to 1973 and was revived on ABC from 1988 to 1990. | The show ran on CBS from 1967 to 1973 and was revived on ABC from 1988 to 1990. |
| "Your mission, should you decide to accept it..." | |
| The actor said the writing was behind the show's long-running success. | |
| "It made you think a little bit and kept you on the edge of your seat because you never knew what was going to happen next," he once said. | |
| He won a Golden Globe in 1971 for his part in the series. | |
| Graves appeared in about 130 film and TV shows during his career. | |
| His first television series was the 1950s children's Saturday morning show Fury, about an orphan and an untamed black stallion. | |
| Early in his career, he also turned in a memorable performance as a Nazi spy in the 1953 prisoner-of-war drama Stalag 17. | |
| In recent years, he hosted the A&E Network's long-running historical series, Biography. | |
| It won him an Emmy for outstanding informational series in 1997. | |
| Were you a fan of Peter Graves? Did you ever work with or meet him? Did you enjoy any other work that Peter appeared in? | Were you a fan of Peter Graves? Did you ever work with or meet him? Did you enjoy any other work that Peter appeared in? |
| Please send us your memories and experiences using the form below. | Please send us your memories and experiences using the form below. |
| Please remember that your comments may be published stating your name and location. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please say so in your message. | Please remember that your comments may be published stating your name and location. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please say so in your message. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |