Editor’s note: In what turned out to be one of his last interviews with the media, actor Peter Graves talked via phone from California last month about his career and his Minnesota roots. This story was scheduled to be published Thursday, which would have been his 84th birthday. Graves died of a heart attack Sunday at his home.
By Kathy Berdan
kberdan@pioneerpress.com
Peter Graves admitted his story sounded like a movie script: Two strapping brothers from Minnesota make their way to Hollywood after serving in World War II and — thanks to hard work and their solid Midwestern upbringing — become two of TV’s biggest stars.
There was even a sweet love angle as the younger brother’s girlfriend follows him to L.A., where they live across the street from one another, waiting until he signs his first movie contract before they marry.
There’s only one problem with the story of Graves (“Mission Impossible’s” Jim Phelps) and his older brother James Arness (“Gunsmoke’s” Matt Dillon).
It would never sell, Graves said.
“There isn’t any scandal.”
Born Peter Aurness in Minneapolis, Graves had 60 scandal-free years in the entertainment biz. He was also married to his wife, Joan (who grew up in St. Paul, the daughter of Dr. Edward K. Andress), for 60 years.
Here’s what Graves had to say recently about the Minnesota traits that helped him succeed.
Values: “We brought some pretty heavy values from Minnesota out here to Lala Land,” Graves said. “A good, solid foundation in being able to do what you do well and do it thoroughly.”
Honesty, thrift and hard work gave the Aurness brothers “a rock-solid foundation that can’t be shaken by the kind of frivolity that’s attributed to Hollywood,” Graves said.
Outdoor skills: Graves’ first movie, 1950’s “Rogue River,” was filmed on the Rouge River in Oregon. Billed as “Adventure in the Great Northwest!” the movie featured Graves and Rory Calhoun as brothers, and let the Minnesotan show off his boating prowess. “In Minnesota, you row from the time you’re born,” he said. “They were all amazed at my ability to row a boat.”
Graves’ later role in the Time-Life series “Discover: The World of Science” took him to far-flung, rugged locations where his outdoor skills came in handy, he said.
Lakes and landscapes: Joan and Peter Graves live in Pacific Pallisades, Calif., but they have a place in Lake Tahoe where they can get a little snow time “and being Minnesotans, we love the beautiful lakes,” he said. She has family in Minnesota and when they returned for visits, they would go to a family cabin “up north,” Graves said.
The St. Paul girl who moved across the United States to be with him: Joan went to work for a doctor in L.A. when she followed Peter to California, but “you didn’t live together in 1949 and 1950,” he said, so she had an apartment on Franklin Avenue in Los Angeles and he rented a room in a rooming house across the street.
They decided they would not marry until Peter had a contract. When he signed on for “Rogue River,” her parents gave their blessing. “They were wonderful people — good solid Midwesterners,” Graves said of his in-laws. “They didn’t put any obstacles in our way once they saw we were in love.”
Twin Cities favorites: Joan Graves’ family house in St. Paul’s Cherokee Heights neighborhood is still in the family. And, as a Gopher alum, the University of Minnesota was special to Peter Graves, who had been honored often by the university and had done some promotional work for the U.
And Graves was a fan of the St. Paul Winter Carnival, though he was disappointed there are many years between ice castles built for the annual event. Well, the carnival is celebrating its 125th year in 2010, maybe some rich Hollywood actor would like to fund a castle this year?
“Yeah,” Graves said with a deep laugh, “I’ll see if I can find someone.”
