Minnesota Native Peter Graves Dies

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Minnesota native who starred in the TV

series "Mission Impossible" and the "Airplane" films has died.

Peter Graves was 83 years old.

Graves' publicist says the actor died Sunday shortly after

returning to his Los Angeles home from brunch with his family.

Graves was born Peter Aurness in Minneapolis. He was a champion

hurdler in high school in Minnesota, as well as a clarinet player

in dance bands and a radio announcer.

After two years in the Air Force, he enrolled at the University

of Minnesota as a drama major and worked in summer stock before

following his brother west to Hollywood.

Graves married his college sweetheart, Joan Endress, and

credited his marriage of nearly 60 years to the couple's Midwestern

upbringing.

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