I was sad to hear that actor Peter Graves died yesterday at the age of 83. I admit my first thought when I heard Graves had died was not his iconic role in Mission: Impossible (although I loved that show) or his wonderfully deadpan performance in Airplane! ("Have you ever seen a grown man naked?"). No, my first thought was of my favorite sci-fi flick as a kid, the outrageously absurd Beginning of the End in which giant grasshoppers destroy my home town of Chicago. It is so deliciously bad it is a must-see. Befitting the typical Cold War fear-mongering scenarios of the time, Peter Graves plays Dr. Ed Wainright, a scientist at the Illinois State Experimental Farm, who accidentally exposes some common grasshoppers to atomic radiation causing them to grow to gigantic proportions and go on a rampage in downtown Chicago. The effects are so bad that at one point you can see grasshoppers walking off a postcard of the Wrigley Building (which they are supposed to be devouring). Behold the trailer to this glorious classic:
Check out Graves' rapid-fire delivery of "We may be witnessing the beginning of an era that will mean the complete annihilation of man." You try saying that ten times! Or his retort, "You can't drop an atom bomb on Chicago!"
Peter Graves made many science fiction movies in the 1950s.usually playing the straight-man PhD trying to explain the weird phenomena.Although his big brother was James Arness, who became a big star in Gunsmoke, this did not open many doors for the young actor when he followed his brother to Hollywood from Minnesota. "Jim met me at the train station and said 'Goback.' I wouldn't so he checked me into the Hollywood YMCA, which is a far cryfrom the Hotel Bel-Air, let me tell you. Jim gave me a copy of the HollywoodReporter and said 'Go.'" Graves' first big break was when he got cast in BillyWilder's "Stalag 17,"
Graves appeared in three forgettable TV series in the early1960s before he was pegged to replace Steven Hill in the brilliant Mission:Impossible. It's easy to forget these days that Graves was not part of thecast during its first year. CBS was a little worried about the switch but Peterwas not. "It's a good spot for me," he said just before the second season beganin 1967. "After shooting four episodes, I knew I fit in artistically with theothers. I recently finished a movie with Doris Day, which will be out in thefall. This TV role makes me more of a debonair type. You should see theapartment they've set up for Jim Phelps. It's really posh." Graves' presence inthe cast catapulted the show in the ratings from 40th to the TopTen. "That," insisted Graves, who did not want to grab the credit, "was becausewe switched to a better time slot."
Mission: Impossible, in my opinion, was the best ensembleacting on television in the 1960s and early 70s. It was also ground-breaking inthat the Impossible Mission Force included a woman (Barbara Bain) andAfrican-American (Greg Morris) without making any big deal about it. I washopelessly in love with Barbara Bain's Cinammon Carter. I think my favorite episodewas when Cinammon was captured by the enemy. Bain was great, and of course, waseventually rescued by Peter Graves. I'm horrified to think that many peopletoday probably think of Tom Cruise, not Peter Graves, when they hear Mission:Impossible. I'm also horrified that in the Tom Cruise abomination, theyturned Phelps into a traitor who had murdered three of the IMF staff. No way inhell would Jim Phelps turn to the dark side. Peter Graves was also disgusted by the treatment of his character and chose not to reprise the role in the films (JonVoight played Phelps).
Back in the 1960s, the 6-foot 3-inch Peter Graves was like areal-life Don Draper, always making the best-dressed lists. "I, personally,like good clothes. I appreciate a fine tailored suit and I'm impressed with theexpansion of color in men's wardrobes," Graves told the American Institute ofMenswear in 1968. "While I'm hampered a bit as Jim Phelps in that I must wearblack and shades of gray, the character does call for a well dressedindividual. Phelps is an urbane man, not rich-rich, but with money and tastewho's learned how to dress." Graves enjoyed wearing the new style of turtlenecks that had just becomepopular in 1968. "I had several turtles before they were in. People seemed tothink they were funny. Now everyone is wearing them practically every place. Ithink that's real fine, but I don't agree they should go to a formal affair.Turtlenecks with dinner jackets seem ridiculous to me."
Graves stayed married to his childhood sweetheart for over 60years. He had three daughters and six grandchildren. I'm so glad he got to celebrate getting his star on Hollywood Boulevard just a few short months ago. Sadly, he collapsedyesterday after enjoying a pre-birthday brunch with his family. He would haveturned 84 this Friday. Our good friend Barbara Rush played Graves' wife on theTV show Seventh Heaven for several seasons a few years ago. They were themost gorgeous and hip grandparents you can imagine. Barbara was devastated tohear about Peter's passing yesterday and said he was a joy to work with. "Oneof my most successful marriages!"
Rest in peace, Peter Graves. And don't worry, the Secretarywill not disavow any knowledge of your actions.