James arness and peter graves

Peter Aurness (March 18, 1926 – March 14, 2010), known professionally as Peter Graves, was an Americanfilm and televisionactor. He was best known for his starring role in the CBStelevision seriesMission: Impossible from 1967 to 1973. His elder brother was actor James Arness (1923–2011).

Early life[]

Graves was born Peter Aurness in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a son of Methodist parents Rolf Cirkler Aurness (1894–1982), a businessman, and his wife Ruth (née Duesler, died 1986), a journalist. Graves' ancestry was Norwegian, English and German. The family name originally was "Aursnes," but when Rolf's Norwegian father, Peter Aursnes, immigrated to New York City in 1887, he changed the spelling. Peter used the stage name "Graves", a maternal family name.

Graves graduated from Southwest High School in 1944, and spent two years in the United States Army Air Force near the end of World War II. He then enrolled at the University of Minnesota on the G.I. Bill, and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

Career[]

Throughout Graves' career he appeared in more than seventy films, television shows, and television movies. In the 1950s, Graves joined the NBCtelevision seriesFury, as the rancher and adoptive single father, Jim Newton. Graves also was involved in the 1953 World War II film,

Died June 3, 2011 in Brentwood, Calif.

James Arness became a virtual real-life hero to millions as the brave and gallant Matt Dillon, the marshal of Dodge City, on the landmark CBS western series "Gunsmoke."

In a 2001 memoir, the 6-foot-7 actor wrote of a happy childhood growing up with his younger brother, actor Peter Graves, in Minneapolis.

During World War II, Arness won a Bronze Star and Purple Heart as a private in the 3rd Infantry Division. After the war, he had roles in the sci-fi movies "The Thing" and "Them!"

His acting career got a boost when he joined John Wayne’s production company. When Arness wavered on taking the Dillon role, Wayne gave him a nudge.

"I went to see Duke and he said, ‘Hey, take this. Do it. You'll get a lot of experience. The whole world will get to know you.’ He talked me into it, and thank God he did.”

Arness was nominated for an Emmy three times for his role as the law-loving marshal, but never won. The cast also featured Amanda Blake as the Long Branch saloonkeeper, Miss Kitty; Milburn Stone as Doc; Dennis Weaver as Chester; and Burt Reynolds as the half-Native American blacksmith Quint Asper.

"James Arness and I are the last of the Mohicans," said Reynolds, who appeared on the show from 1962 through 1965.

Arness made "Gunsmoke's" Dodge City a set like no other, Reynolds said.

"You know, the stars don't go to lunch with the day players and the day players don't eat with the extras,” he said. “Jim Arness just tore that all to hell and everybody was treated very nice. And it does start with the star of the show. 'Gunsmoke' was a very classy show and nobody dared act like an ass or a jerk because Jim wasn't."

Being a member of the "Gunsmoke" ensemble meant you were part of a protective family that love to have fun, Reynolds says. "Most people never realized what a fabulous sense of humor Jim Arness has. If Jim got the giggles, he was gone. Not just fo

American actor (1923–2011)

James Arness (born James King Aurness; May 26, 1923 – June 3, 2011) was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the series Gunsmoke. He has the distinction of having played the role of Dillon in five decades: 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series, then in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987) and four more made-for-televisionGunsmoke films in the 1990s. In Europe, Arness reached cult status for his role as Zeb Macahan in the Western series How the West Was Won. He was the older brother of actor Peter Graves.

Early life

James Arness was born in Minneapolis. His parents were businessman Rolf Cirkler Aurness and journalist Ruth Duesler. His father's ancestry was Norwegian; his mother's was German. The family name had been Aursnes, but when Rolf's father, Peter Aursnes, emigrated from Norway in 1887, he changed it to Aurness. James Arness and his family were Methodists. Arness' younger brother was actor Peter Graves. Peter used the stage name "Graves", a maternal family name.

Arness attended John Burroughs Grade School, Washburn High School, and West High School in Minneapolis. During that time, Arness worked as a courier for a jewelry wholesaler, loading and unloading railway boxcars at the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad freight yards in Minneapolis and logging in Pierce, Idaho. Despite "being a poor student and skipping many classes," he graduated from high school in June 1942.

Arness entered Beloit College that fall, where he joined the campus choir and became a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

Military service in World War II

Although Arness wanted to be a naval fighter pilot, he was concerned his poor eyesight would bar him. However, it was his 6-ft, 7-in (2.01 m) frame that ended his chances because the height limit for aviators was set at 6 ft,

American actor (1926–2010)

This article is about the American actor. For the English actor, see Peter Graves, 8th Baron Graves. For other uses, see Peter Graves (disambiguation).

Peter Graves (born Peter Duesler Aurness; March 18, 1926 – March 14, 2010) was an American actor who portrayed Jim Phelps in the television series Mission: Impossible from 1967 to 1973 and in its revival from 1988 to 1990. His elder brother was actor James Arness. Graves also played airline pilot Captain Clarence Oveur in the 1980 comedy film Airplane! and its 1982 sequel Airplane II: The Sequel.

Early life and education

Peter Graves was born Peter Duesler Aurness on March 18, 1926, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the younger son of Rolf Cirkler Aurness (1894–1982), a businessman, and his wife, Ruth (née Duesler, died 1986), a journalist.

Graves's ancestry was Norwegian, German, and English. He used the stage name Graves, a maternal family name, to honor his mother's family, and also so as to not be confused with the stage name of his elder brother James Arness, star of the television series Gunsmoke.

Graves graduated from Southwest High School in 1944. He was a two-time Minnesota state track champion in the 120 yard high hurdles at Southwest. He served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II from 1944 to 1945, reaching the rank of corporal, and was awarded the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. After demobilization, Graves enrolled at the University of Minnesota on the G.I. Bill, and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

Career

Graves appeared in more than 70 films, television shows, and television movies during his career. He was featured in a key role in the 1953 World War II film, Stalag 17. In 1955, Graves joined the NBCtelevision seriesFury, as the rancher and adoptive single father, Jim Newton.^[