RIP Peter Graves

[Haggis and tatties]

R.I.P

 

[Emher]

Rest in Peace, Mr Graves

 

[Neroon]

There's a generation of folks who will always remember him as Capt. Oveur. But to me he will first be Mr. Phelps, the unflappable, ultimate capable and never a traitor leader of the Impossible Missions Force. Then again he did play a traitor in the great film, "Stalag 17".



Way to live your life, sir.

 

[Christopher]

I have a huge urge to watch Airplane! now as well. Peter Graves was the most consistently funny guy in that film.

Though when you look back at it - he was only in the film for maybe 5 minutes.

Probably that his he was more known for his straight roles i.e Phelps that made it work.

Indeed. That was the idea behind most of the casting in Airplane. They got actors who were renowned for their serious, intense dramatic acting -- Peter Graves, Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, Chuck Connors -- and had them play it just as serious and just as intense as if it were a real disaster movie, and it was the contrast between that deadpan grimness and the sheer zaniness of the material that made it so brilliant. (Which is why it's so ironic that these days Leslie Nielsen is typecast as a clownish buffoon.)

And in Graves' case, I think, his reputation wasn't just as a serious actor, but as a reliable, fatherly figure, someone whose warm competence you just naturally trusted. Which is probably why Airplane played against that by having his character be a sex offender.

 

[Roshi]

Oh teh noes!!! I had just quoted him in a thread last week!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

That was the idea behind most of the casting in Airplane. They got actors who were renowned for their serious, intense dramatic acting -- Peter Graves, Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, Chuck Connors -- and had them play it just as serious and just as intense as if it were a real disaster movie, and it was the contrast between that deadpan grimness and the sheer zaniness of the material that made it so brilliant.

Not only that, but much of the actual SCRIPT was taken - almost verbatim - from an actual dramatic disaster flick, Zero Hour!.

 

[Mistral]

A dignified man who brought gravitas to any role who chose to take-and one of those actors that carried the Elder Statesman with dignity as he aged. This message will self-destruct in five seconds...RIP.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Saw this last night. RIP.

 

[Ptrope]

"Good morning, Mr. Phelps. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to entertain God. This message will self-destruct in 5 seconds."

Good luck with your final mission, Peter. RIP.

 

[drychlick]

rip mr graves

 

[Keith1701]

Sad news indeed

R.I.P. Very Sad news indeed. I really enjoyed him and Leonard Nimoy on Mission Impossible, in fact; I just got Season 5 of The Original Series on DVD yesterday. RIP