Trivia

In 1996 veteran character actor Richard Jaeckel, Peck's co-star in The Gunfighter (1950), was diagnosed with cancer, and his wife had Alzheimer's disease. The Jaeckels had lost their Brentwood home and were over $1 million in debt, leaving them basically homeless. His family tried unsuccessfully to place him in the Motion Picture and Television Country Home and Hospital. Once Peck lobbied for Jaeckel's admittance, he was treated within three days. Jaeckel stayed in the hospital until his death on 6/14/97.

He took in former co-star Ava Gardner's housekeeper and dog after her death on 1/25/90.

Formed a solid friendship with Mary Badham, who played his daughter "Scout" in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). They remained in contact until his passing. According to Badham, she always called him "Atticus" and he always called her "Scout".

Of his own movies, To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) is his favorite.

His character from To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), Atticus Finch, was voted the greatest screen hero of all time by the American Film Institute in May 2003, only two weeks before his death (beating out Indiana Jones, who was placed second, and James Bond who came third).

His favorite drink was Guinness, which he drank every day. Eventually he had a tap installed in the bar at his house.

Cited that his favorite leading ladies were Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman and Ava Gardner.

Appeared on President Richard Nixon's infamous "enemies list" in 1972.

Became friends with Audrey Hepburn after working with her in Roman Holiday (1953). Peck successfully persuaded Paramount executives to give her star billing equal to his, rather than "Introducing" credit, because he strongly believed the film rested dramatically on her character's -- and Hepburn's -- shoulders, and not his. Indeed, Hepburn went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actress at the 1954 Oscars and they both remained close until her death in 1993. That same year, Peck presented her son Sean Hepburn Ferrer with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in recognition for her work with UNICEF.

When he was the President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, he lobbied the organization's Board of Governors to make animated feature films eligible for nomination as Best Picture. It wasn't until 1991 that Disney's Beauty and the Beast (1991) became the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture, although it did not win.

During his lean days, he supported himself as a Radio City Music Hall tour guide and a catalog model for Montgomery Ward.

A physically powerful man, he was known to do a majority of his own fight scenes, rarely using body or stunt doubles. Robert Mitchum, his on-screen opponent in Cape Fear (1962), said that Peck once accidentally punched him for real during their final fight scene. He recalled feeling the impact of the punch for days afterward and said, "I don't feel sorry for anyone dumb enough who picks a fight with him".

Marched with Martin Luther King.

According to at least one biography, he took his role in The Omen (1976) at a huge cut in salary (a mere $250,000) but was guaranteed 10% of the film's box-office take. It went on to gross more than $60 million in the US alone and became the film for which he earned the most money in his career.

President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) from 1967-70. He made the decision to postpone the 1968 Oscar ceremony after Martin Luther King's assassination.

Son, Stephen did a tour in Vietnam with the Marine Corps. Peck was proud of his son's military service even though he disagreed with the war itself.

Turned down Yves Montand's role in Let's Make Love (1960) because he didn't want to work with Marilyn Monroe.

In 1980, stating he was worried about the 600,000 jobs hanging on the survival of the Chrysler Corp., he volunteered to become an unpaid TV pitchman for the company.

Oldest son Jon committed suicide by gunshot in 1975.

Was Warner Bros. original choice to play Grandpa Joe in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). He was offered the role and seriously considered this but passed away before he could give them an answer.

Regularly visited the terminally sick Humphrey Bogart while filming Designing Woman (1957) with Bogart's wife, Peck's old friend, Lauren Bacall. He was devastated by Bogart's death on 1/14/57.

After making Arabesque (1966), he withdrew from acting for three years in order to concentrate on various humanitarian causes, including the American Cancer Society.

When he arrived in Italy to shoot Roman Holiday (1953), he was privately depressed about his recent separation and imminent divorce from his first wife, Greta. However, during the shoot, he met and fell in love with a French woman named Veronique Passani After his divorce, he married Passani (aka Veronique Peck); they remained together for the rest of his life.

Was the first native Californian to receive an Academy Award for Best Actor.

In 1999 he publicly berated Congress for failing to pass legislation preventing teenagers from buying guns, following the Columbine high school massacre.

MGM wanted him to play Roger Thornhill in North by Northwest (1959), but director Alfred Hitchcock thought he was too serious and cast Cary Grant instead.

He did not get along with director Elia Kazan while filming Gentleman's Agreement (1947). Kazan told the press he was very disappointed with Peck's performance and the two men never worked together again.

In 1947, at the beginning of the "Red Scare" investigations in Hollywood, he signed a letter deploring the witch hunts despite being warned that it could hurt his career.

Had always wanted to do a Walt Disney movie.

In 1999 the American Film Institute named him among the Greatest Male Stars of All Time, ranking at #12.

By 1974, following a series of flops, his career had declined to such an extent that he admitted in an interview that he was thinking of retiring from acting. Two years later, however, he made an enormous comeback with The Omen (1976).

Mourners for the public service held after his burial held huge black-and-white portraits of him as they approached the Cathedral, designed by artist/sculptor Robert Graham, husband of Anjelica Huston. Church officials estimated that almost 3,000 people attended. Seats were reserved for his friends, a sizable number of whom were celebrities--they were instructed to whisper the secret password "Atticus" to the red-coated ushers who escorted them to the reserved section--Harry Belafonte, Anjelica Huston, Michael York, Louise Fletcher, Tony Danza, Piper Laurie, Harrison Ford, Calista Flockhart. Michael Jackson, wearing a red jacket, caused a stir when he arrived 20 minutes late. Decked out in a bright blue suit and clutching a program with Peck's picture on it was his first wife Greta, looking hale and hearty at 92. Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, presided over the service. The program included bible readings by his children Carey, Cecilia and Tony. Mahoney said, "He lived his life authentically, as God called and willed him and placed him in his room, with gifts and talents." Brock Peters, who played the black man defended by Peck's character Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), delivered the eulogy. The film spawned a close friendship between the two stars that lasted more than 40 years. "In art there is compassion," said Peters, "in compassion there is humanity, with humanity there is generosity and love. Gregory Peck gave us these attributes in full measure." The crowd visibly warmed to a videotape performance of Peck featuring a lecture he gave several years before. He said he hoped to be remembered first as a good husband, father and grandfather. Then, with quiet strength and unforgettable presence, he added: "I'd like to be thought of as a good storyteller".

In 1999 he supported the decision to give Elia Kazan an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement, saying he believed that a man's work should be separate from his life.

Peck spent time early in his career working at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA - the State Theatre of Virginia. A picture hangs in the theatre of him with an old pickup truck, showing how he worked both behind the scenes as well as on stage. The Barter also boasts stints from Ernest Borgnine, Patricia Neal, Larry Linville and Kevin Spacey.

His performance as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) is ranked #13 on "Premiere" magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

He has appeared in five films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Gentleman's Agreement (1947), Twelve O'Clock High (1949), Roman Holiday (1953), How the West Was Won (1962) and To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).

National Chairman, American Cancer Society. in 1966.

A back injury incurred in college kept him out of the services in World War II.

Often stated how disappointed he was that many American viewers did not realize how anti-war The Guns of Navarone (1961) was.

Was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War, while remaining supportive of his son who was serving there.

Children with Veronique Peck: Tony Peck (b. 1956) and Cecilia Peck (b. 1958).

The financial failure of Cape Fear (1962) ended his company, Melville Productions.

His earliest movie memory is of being so scared by The Phantom of the Opera (1925) at age nine that his grandmother allowed him to sleep in the bed with her that night.

In 1969, he was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, awarded by Lyndon B. Johnson.

His favorite singers were Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. He was also a big fan of Elton John.

In the early 1990s he considered writing his autobiography. However, he decided against this when he realized he was not as good at writing as his friend David Niven.

His picture appears on a nondenominated USA commemorative postage stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series, issued 28 April 2011. Peck is shown as the character Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). Price on day of issue was 44¢. First day of issue ceremonies were held at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Named the #12 greatest actor on The 50 Greatest Screen Legends list by the American Film Institute

Chosen by producer Darryl F. Zanuck for the epic film David and Bathsheba (1951) because Zanuck thought Peck had a "biblical face".

Was a lifelong opponent of nuclear weapons, and made On the Beach (1959) for this reason.