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Show BY JAMES BRADY Peter and his wife, Joan, met at the U. of Minnesota, where he studied drama. They've been together ever since. Hisfirst Job was asa radio announcer GRAVE starred in Mission. Impossible on CBS. Then, when ABC brought the series back years later with ERY QUIETLY Born March18, 1925, in Minneapolis, Minn. Married to Joan Endress since 1950: three daughters: Kelly, Claudia and Amanda. Television: Includes Fury, 1955-66; Whiplash, 1961; Court-Martial, 1966; Mission: Impossible. 1967-73; Call to Danger, 1973; Strange Places, 1973; The Underground Man, 1974; Dead Man on the Run, 1975; The Winds of War, 1983; Discover: The World of Science, 1985- 90; Biography, 1987-. War and Remembrance, 1988; Mission: over II years, the A&E network's flagship series Biogra phy has built a de- “We hada ball on that show,” Petersaid. “We even did a couple of years in Australia, which gave us Good, fresh stuff and excellent backgrounds. | was sorry about the loss of Martin Landau and Barbara Bain from the CBS show .” What happened? “There were disputes, dreadful matters of pride, and they left. We went on four more years with other wonderful people, but| missed them.” And how'shis brother, Gunsmoke star voted audience of millions of Americans. In theprocess, the Emmy-winning program also has created a second career for its co-host, Peter Grave: whose own life has beensuffi- ciently fascinating to have caredhim his ownBiography. I interviewed Graves, a big guy with a shock of white hair andavery redface, at a Manhattan hotel. He was in town to tape the “wraparounds” that open andclose each show Had Biography’s success surprisedhim? “Yes,” Peter said “Whenwe started it, the whole thing was new to me. No one knew whatcable was, and only Impossible, three peoplehad it. | thought people who'd knownhim,and 1988-90. “After we do Churchill and thetales flew fast andfurious. Films: FDR and maybe Eleanor Roo: AndMarilyn Monroe—people Include never tire of hearing about her.” Rogue River, sevelt, who else could we do? 1950; unet Well, consider this: In 11 years, Perhaps Graves’ best movie Mars, 1952; they've produced nearly 600 was that POW dramaStalag Stalag 17, 1953; TheNightof the profiles, from Attila the Hun to 17, starting Bill Holden, with Hunter, 1955; Frank Zappa. Graves and Jack Peter as thevillain, working The CourtPerkins split the hostingchores. against the American POWs Martial of Billy Mitchell, 1955; Any favorites? “Dean Mar Howdidthat job comeabout? Airplane!, 1980; tin,” Peter said. “I knew him Airplane Il: The ‘Paramount's casting people Sequel, 1982. liked him and enjoyed doing looked at meand said. “Abso: that. I got the Emmy for Judy lutely no! You're anall-Amer Garland. When wedid Walter Winchell, wehad a party with ican boy,’” Graves recalled Paul Kohner was both my Peter Graves of AE's Biography has quite a bio of his own— from Stalag 17 and Airplane! to TV's Mission: Impossible and Winds of War. y I agent and [director] Billy Wilder’s. He got mea meeting with Wilder, who went around the room, framing mewith his ands the wholetime wetalked, and that got me a screen test.” Andhowdidheendupinthe crazy comedy Airplane!? “I read thescript andsaid, ‘What the hell is this?” Graves admitted “Noneof us believed it wouldbe funny. Then, at thescreening, all these producer types werefalling out of their chairs laughing, and I said, ‘Boy, am I funny!” Ik retired and living near us in L.A..” said Graves. “He was badly wounded at Anzio |Italy, in World War I andhasfits with his knee Can't climb on andoff horses contemporary script | thought we might do together, but hesaid, ‘I only teel comfortable in the 19th century.’” PAGE 26 JUNE 28, 1998 PARADE MAGAZINE |
