As we all know, so many of the films coming out of Hollywood these days are based on established properties, often classic television series of the '60s and '70s. So in a sense, the Hollywood of today owes a debt of gratitude to the Hollywood of that bygone era, filled as it often was with fresh, groundbreaking concepts that today's baby boomers hold dear to their hearts. From the creators and producers, to the writers and actors, these individuals made lasting impressions on popular culture.

And so it was with actor Peter Graves, who's starring performance in one of Hollywood's most famous TV shows, Mission Impossible (1966-73) helped catapult creator/producer Bruce Gellar's CBS series into the upper echelons of television popularity. Sadly, Graves died yesterday of an apparent heart attack outside his Los Angeles home, a week away from his 84th birthday.

Of course, Graves' career consisted of playing many more roles than just Mission Impossible's Jim Phelps. Born Peter Aurness in Minneapolis in 1926 and educated at the city's Southwest High School, Graves was a gifted athlete and clarinet player. By age 16 he was a radio announcer at WMIN in Minneapolis. He served for two years in the US Army Air Force prior to attending the University of Minnesota, where he studied drama…before heading for Hollywood.

The younger brother of Gunsmoke star James Arness, Graves came to public attention in the 1950s television series Fury, about the adventures of a boy and his horse. Perhaps more importantly, in 1953 the actor appeared in Stalag 17, Billy Wilder's prisoner-of-war drama in which Graves starred as a Nazi spy, earning him critical acclaim.

Graves's television appearances included Alfred Hitchcock Presents, the miniseries The Winds of War (1983) and War and Remembrance (1988), and Fantasy Island (1978-83). He also served as a presenter for A&E's Biography and narrated a number of programs.

Graves also co-starred as Captain Oveur in the spoofs Airplane! (1980) and Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), using a deadpan comedic delivery to play against his traditionally serious roles; a strategy also employed by his traditionally serious co-stars, Robert Stack and Leslie Nielsen.

Graves was married to his college sweetheart in 1950, Joan Endress, and the two have three daughters.

Of his friend's death, actor Martin Landau — who starred opposite Graves in Mission Impossible — said the following in a statement: "Peter was one of the nicest people on the planet. Working with him for those years on 'Mission: Impossible' is among the fondest memories of my life. He was not only extremely talented, but also completely unselfish and always prepared. Peter possessed a great sense of humor, but what impressed me most about him was that I never heard him say a bad word about anyone he encountered. I'd like [wife] Joan and the family to know my deepest love, thoughts and feelings are with them in this hour of bereavement."