The actor Peter Graves , better known as the mission impossible force leader during the time of the classic IMF adventures on television (as well as various scifi films and TV series), has died aged 83 in the garden of his Hollywood house after returning from a late lunch with his wife.

Graves started out in scifi B-movie films such as It Conquered the World, taking on carrot-like Venusian alien invaders, and Beginning of the World, battling a monstrous mutant grasshopper.



Really keen science fiction fans may recall him appearing in the NBC TV series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century as Major Noah Cooper, commander of Earth's 69th squadron, as well a bit part in Men in Black II and many appearances in Mystery Science Theater 3000.

As well as being the uncrowned king of spy-fi, those fans who are a little bit older may remember him as the pilot from the Airplane comedies of the 1980s.

He is survived by three daughters and six grandchildren.

Goodbye Peter, now you are dead, the secretary will finally disavow any knowledge of your actions.