by Kim Everett

Created on: September 17, 2008

Gregory Peck, one of the greatest actors of all time as well as a dedicated humanitarian, was born April 15, 1916. He was the son of Bernice Mae Ayres and Gregory Pearl Peck, who divorced when he was six years old. He attended Catholic military school until he was a young teenager, then he moved in with his father and attended San Diego High School.

While attending the University of California, Berkeley, Peck became interested in acting and appeared in several plays. Of his college years he said, "It was a very special experience for me and three of the greatest years of my life. It woke me up and made me a human being."

After graduating with a BA in English, he went to New York where he appeared in several Broadway plays. His film career began in 1944 with a role in "Days of Glory." He soon starred in several great films including "The Keys of the Kingdom," "Duel in the Sun," "Twelve O'Clock High," "The Yearling," and "Gentleman's Agreement." Peck was an actor with a conscience and starred in several films, beginning with "Gentleman's Agreement," that made important social statements. The epitome of these important films was "To Kill a Mockingbird" in which he portrayed Atticus Finch, a widowed lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman during the depression era.

He was married twice, first to Greta Kukkonen from 1942-1945, then to Veronique Passani from 1955 until his death in 2003. He had three sons with his first wife, Jonathan, Stephen, and Carey. He had another son, Anthony, and a daughter, Cecilia, during his second marriage. He also had several grandchildren. Sadly, he endured the loss of one of his sons by suicide, and he was understandably devastated.

Peck's name is #12 on the American Film Institute's list of Greatest Male Stars of All Time. His good looks and impeccable acting skills made him the perfect leading man. He was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, was nominated for five Academy Awards and the winner of one, was awarded several Golden Globes, and given the Screen Actors' Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.

As evidenced by his performances in great films such as "The Yearling," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Roman Holiday," "Spellbound," and "Cape Fear," Peck was a great actor with the ability to play a variety of roles. He had a gift for making his characters come to life with unparalleled realism and authenticity.

However, the roles that he cherished most were those of husband, father, and humanitarian. Peck died June 12, 2003 from cardio respiratory arrest and bronchial pneumonia. Fortunately, he left a legacy in film and an example of caring and compassionate service to others for future generations.

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