The incredible ‘Mission Impossible’ franchise continues today with the opening of ‘Mission Impossible: Fallout’ this weekend, following four others ‘MI’ films that began with Tom Cruise back in 1996. The movie this weekend features Tom, Ving Rhames, Henry Cavill and Simon Pegg, but wouldn’t even be possible without the original television series ‘Mission Impossible’ that debuted in American homes in 1966, lasting through 1973, 171 episodes in all.
The original television series starred Peter Graves, Greg Lupus, Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Leonard Nimoy, Greg Morris and Stephen Hill. The series began on CBS and would later move to ABC for two seasons in 1986. This groundbreaking series earned seven Emmy’s and three Golden Globes during its run.’
Martin Landau and his then-wife Barbara Bain jointly left the show after the third season due to a contract dispute after their demands for a salary raise weren’t met. As of February 2018, Peter Lupus is the only surviving male regular cast member.
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