JUNE 2026

60th Anniversary for

Classic TV Series Mission Impossible

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

For seven seasons (1966-1973) CBS aired Mission Impossible -- an American espionage TV series created by Bruce Geller (while financed and produced by Desilu Productions) -- that highlighted a small team of covert government agents using creative techniques to combat Cold War adversaries, organized crime, 3rd world dictators, corrupt industrialists and on occasion, rescuing or helping each other in distressful personal situations.  The series boasted a lively opening instrumental theme song composed by Lalo Schifrin plus a now legendary if not stellar cast -- Steven Hill (team leader in Season One), Peter Graves (team leader for the six remaining seasons), Martin Landau and Barbara Bain (Seasons 1, 2 and 3), Greg Morris and Peter Lupus (all seven seasons), plus Leonard Nimoy (Seasons 4 and 5), Lesley Ann Warren and Sam Elliott (Season 5), Lynda Day George (Seasons 6 and 7) and Barbara Anderson (recurring in Season 7).  The show won 10 Primetime Emmy Awards (including two for Outstanding Drama) and 3 Golden Globe Awards (including one for Best Drama).

This year marks the 60th anniversary for this storied Classic TV franchise and also the 30th anniversary for the Tom Cruise motion picture franchise.  Each primetime TV episode was noted for essentially being an action-packed mini-movie (although there were several two or three part story arcs during its seven year run) that was not resolved until the final seconds of the episode!  Usually the "Mission Impossible" team would be shown making their getaway or exit in a nondescript truck or sedan with the episode ending in a freeze frame.  The clarity and concision was aided by a now iconic opening scene in which the team leader would pick up a hidden tape recorder (or sometimes a phonograph record) accompanied by photos and information describing the mission.  The episodes were characterized by clockwork precision plus multiple elaborate deceptions in which cast members were in disguise and usually having to be prepared to handle unexpected, oft random events that might otherwise jeopardize the success of the mission.

The template for the core regular "Mission Impossible" members was established in Season One.

> Barbara Bain as Cinnamon Carter, an actress and top fashion model;

> Martin Landau as Rollin Hand, master disguise artist and magician;

> Greg Morris as Barney Collier, electronics whiz and mechanical genius;

> Peter Lupus as Willy Armitage, a world champion weightlifter.

Of note is that the agents' fame in their respective private careers never compromised their identities during their various missions around the globe.  Occasionally there would be guest stars playing agents with highly specialized skills to augment the core group.

Although there were a few episodes that gave the viewers a glimpse into the personal background of the various agents, the focus of each episode was on the caper or mission.  There was minimal character development so that seeing the agents as "blank slates" would make them more convincing in their undercover work.  The agents were very rarely seen in their "real lives" so that the story was the priority!  With the advancements in computer graphics and special effects in the decades following the show's cancellation in 1973, it is easy to conceptualize how this great concept could be leveraged into the big-screen box office success it became starting in 1996 and running to this present day with marquee stars and exotic locales.

Two important items that distinguished this classic TV series and made it such a lasting great success:  First, the original premise of Mission Impossible drew inspiration from Jules Dassin's 1964 film Topkapi (featuring Peter Ustinov in his Academy Award winning performance) for its innovative, highly detailed and methodical layout of an elaborate heist.  Mission Impossible obviously switched its focus away from criminals but it featured the same formula of a lively musical score, precision clockwork and minimal dialogue as its agents operated in time pressure situations fraught with physical and psychological dangers.  The second item that differentiated Mission Impossible was its use of elaborate means in which the outcomes were guided in such a manner that the criminal adversaries often ended up being at odds with each other, thereby neutralizing themselves or incriminating themselves so that traditional law enforcement agencies could arrest them as our heroes exited the scene having accomplished their mission!  The clever use of disguises, electronic gadgetry and psychology created dissension among the criminals and they would self-destruct.

In celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Mission Impossible, we not only recommend taking time to watch or rewatch this classic TV series via streaming or DVD, but invite you, our wonderful audience to share who your favorite actors are from this series by posting to the GNN FACEBOOK page or writing to us directly with your recollections and special memories.

NOTE:  All photos are from the Public Domain.