Peter Graves, Man; Husband; Father and Actor

 University  3 By 1946 Peter's last year, the (Gopher) Year book reported that he was voted ‘Snow King’ during Snow Week. And together with his ‘Snow Queen’, he had his picture taken for the local paper. And despite his earlier confusion with girls, Peter met his future wife, the stunningly beautiful Joan Endress, when she auditioned for one of the plays that Peter was also auditioning for. But before they could get engaged, Joan's family demanded that Peter found a steady job. He considered going East to start a career in the theatre, but a professor advised him to try a career in the movies.           So Peter left University early and with his good friend Jack Smight headed for Hollywood.

 University  2 Contrary to his concerns, Peter through himself into Acting and Campus life. He took part in such performances as ‘The Wild Duck’, by Haakon Ibsen, and ‘A Dream Play’, by August Strindberg. And here a video of his fellow class mate, Jack Smight who eventually became a director in his own right, telling an amusing story of a failed exam.

 University  1    On being accepted into the University of Minnesota, Peter found a home in the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, and learned that everything has its own rules! Having already made up his mind that from here on in, music would take a back seat to his new interest, he signed up almost immediately to major in ‘Speech’, however after only a few months he was persuaded by the head of department to change his major to ‘Theatre’, to give him a wider appreciation of the subject.   The following is a short excerpt from a longer video, that sadly is too long to post to this forum. If you would like to see it, please join us at.. Peter Graves <3 | Facebook So when I came out of the army after ww2 and went to the University of Minnesota I originally wanted to take a speech major because I had done a bit of radio work so far. So I went to the head of department and he said, ‘I think you should take a theatre major because you’ll learn more and get exposed t...

 'Interview'   2 The following is the transcript that Peter did for the Blu-ray recording of Which Doctor' Gunsmoke. It shows the time stamps for the recording should you have a copy, alternatively you could join us at     (1) Peter Graves <3 | Facebook  where you can see many films and appearances in their entirety. Hello. I am Peter Graves, and we are watching an episode of Gunsmoke. As most of you may know, I am big Jim Arness’s little brother, and this is episode is entitled ‘Which Doctor’, which I directed. One of the two guys there is George Linsey. He is a very amusing guy who did a funny job in this episode of Gunsmoke, but who also was on the Andy Griffiths show. I was so pleased to be able to have that calibre of actor.   1.28 I had not done any directing, nor thought about it. I actually had a deal with Universal Studios. I had made a television series for them in England, called ‘Court Martial’, starring Brad Dillman. It was...

 'Interview'   1 This is an interview mainly with Mr. Graves mother, where she talks about the boys lives. The Minneapolis Star Fri. Aug. 1958. Jim’s Actor Brother Doing All Right Too. By Barbara Flanagan. Peter Graves Aurness was sold on show business early. Long before his brother, big Jim Aurness (now Arness), had so much as learned a line of dialog, Peter knew he wanted to act. Today, as Peter Graves, he is a successful actor in both television and motion pictures. His children’s western series ‘Fury’, is a Saturday morning success. In the movies he’s had meaty roles in ‘Stalag 17’, with William Holden; ‘Black Tuesday’, with Edward G Robinson, ‘The Raid,’ with Van Heflin and in ‘Fort Defiance.’ Graves co-starred in the first film he ever made – ‘Rogue River’, with Rory Calhoun. He’s also been a familiar face on such top television dramatic programs as ‘Studio One’, ‘Climax’, and ‘Hall of Fame’. Graves isn’t idolized as yet to the extent that Arness and his smash progr...