An In-Depth Look at the Iconic Series and the Lives of Its Stars After the Final Curtain: The first episode of Mission: Impossible aired in 1966. It was about high-stakes spying, complicated lies, and constant tension. The show was one of the most sophisticated spy dramas of its time, created by Bruce Geller and produced by Desilu (later Paramount Television), winning many awards and leaving an indelible mark on the genre. Unlike the action-packed Tom Cruise movie series, the original TV show was about strategy, teamwork, and intellectual battles rather than explosions and stunts. But what happened to the actors who brought the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) to life after the show ended in 1973?

Peter Graves (Jim Phelps): Jim Phelps became associated with Mission: Impossible, and Peter Graves’ portrayal of the no-nonsense boss left a lasting impact. Graves added a cool and powerful personality to the series by replacing Steven Hill after the first season. Graves continued to have success in movies and TV shows after the show ended. He became famous for his mocking serious character in the 1980 comedy Airplane! and its follow-up. He also hosted the A&E documentary series Biography with a dignified voice. He kept acting until he died in 2010 at the age of 83.

Martin Landau (Rollin Hand): Rollin Hand, played by Martin Landau, was one of the most interesting IMF members because he was so good at hiding his identity and tricking people. Landau left Mission: Impossible after three seasons because of a disagreement over his contract, but he went on to have a stellar career. He had roles in Tucker: The Man and His Dream and Ed Wood, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He had a career comeback with roles in the TV series Space: 1999 alongside his then-wife Barbara Bain. Even in his later years, Landau kept acting until he died in 2017 at the age of 89.

Barbara Bain (Cinnamon Carter): As the team’s sexy and smart femme fatale, Cinnamon Carter, played by Bain, became a fan favorite. She won three Emmys in a row for Best Actress, which is a testament to her talent. After leaving the show with her husband, Martin Landau, she co-starred with him in Space: 1999. Bain continued to work in TV and movies, taking on character roles in shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Grey’s Anatomy. She is still alive and active today at the age of 92.

Greg Morris (Barney Collier): Barney Collier was the team’s technical genius, and Greg Morris played him for most of the show’s run. He was smart and creative in every mission. After Mission: Impossible, Morris starred in Vega$ and played the same part in the 1988 revival of Mission: Impossible. However, he was disappointed by the Tom Cruise-led movies, and he reportedly walked out of the theater in tears. Sadly, Morris died of cancer in 1996 at the age of 62.

Peter Lupus (Willy Armitage): While some of his co-stars left the show after just a few seasons, Peter Lupus stayed for all seven and played the strong but quiet Willy Armitage, helping with physical operations. He is now in his 90s and is one of the last original cast members still alive.

Steven Hill (Dan Briggs): After one season, Steven Hill quit as the original IMF leader, Dan Briggs, because he wouldn’t work on the Sabbath, which messed up production schedules. Hill later became famous as District Attorney Adam Schiff on Law & Order, a role he played from 1990 to 2000. He died in 2016 at the age of 94.

Leonard Nimoy (Paris): Nimoy, who was famous for playing Spock on Star Trek, joined Mission: Impossible in its fourth season as master impersonator Paris. His time on the show was short, but it was better with him there. After he left, Nimoy returned to the Star Trek franchise and directed two of its movies. He continued to act and write until he died in 2015 at age 83.

Lynda Day George (Lisa Casey): After Bain left, George joined Mission: Impossible in later seasons and took on a major female role. She became a key member of the team and used her beauty and intelligence in many missions. After the show, she continued acting on TV and in movies, starring in The Silent Force and horror movies from the late 1970s. Now that she is in her 70s, she lives a quieter life away from Hollywood.

The Show’s Legacy and Personal Reflections: Fans of Mission: Impossible engaged not just with another spy show, but with a complex puzzle to solve. Unlike James Bond, where one man was the focus, the IMF was a group of people with different roles who worked together to complete missions. Their successes depended on trust, accuracy, and strategy. The show inspired many modern heist and spy movies, including 24, Alias, and even The Americans. Fans miss the cool, calculated approach of the TV show, but the movies have gone overboard with action.

Modern viewers still find the show captivating and new. Without the use of CGI or high-tech gadgets, the tasks feel more realistic, and the show pioneered the innovative use of psychological warfare and deception instead of physical violence.

Where the Cast Stands Today: Barbara Bain, Peter Lupus, and Lynda Day George are some of the few cast members from the original show who are still alive in 2025. Their work, along with that of their late co-stars, continues to influence writers and artists today.

Mission: Impossible changed everything. It made people think about how smart they were, changed the way stories are told on TV, and gave us some of the most famous acts in the history of TV. Many people are still amazed by Tom Cruise’s IMF, but the original show is what made the series what it is today. Even though that tape that turned itself off meant the end of each task. Mission: Impossible has had a lasting effect that will never be forgotten.

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