Chairman, American Film Institute. He was the first Chairman of the AFI. [1967-1969]

Only the Valiant (1951) was his least favorite film. He thought the western potboiler was a step backwards after starring in The Gunfighter (1950).

He was voted the 27th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Premiere Magazine.

He is listed in the Cal Berkeley Alumni roster as a graduate of the Class of 1942 who studied as an English major and where he acted in plays at the Associated Students sponsored 'Little Theatre' on campus. Incidentally while under the watch of the University's Committee on Music and Drama led by Professor William Popper as chairman, the University's Department of Dramatic Arts was just being established towards the end of his student tenure in 1941.

He was a heavy drinker as a young actor in Hollywood. In 1949 he was hospitalized with heart spasms, and while filming David and Bathsheba (1951) he was hospitalized with a suspected heart attack. Though it turned out to be a palpitation brought on by his lifestyle and overwork, he began to drink less thereafter. However, he did not stop smoking for many more years.

Charter Member, National Council on the Arts. [1964-1966]

Of his own movies, To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) is Peck's favourite.

Agreed to star in David and Bathsheba (1951) as a riposte to the Biblical epics of Cecil B. DeMille.

In 1946 he met and befriended Gary Cooper, with whom he was often compared in terms of looks and acting style.

His few attempts to play a villain were considered unsuccessful, perhaps because the public could not accept Peck as anything other than good. He was considered too young at 38 to play Captain Ahab in Moby Dick (1956), especially since the character was described in Herman Melville's novel as an old man. Peck admitted he only agreed to play Nazi Dr Josef Mengele in The Boys from Brazil (1978) because he wanted to work with Sir Laurence Olivier. Although the film and his performance were savaged by the critics, Peck remained loyal to it.

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

Formed a firm friendship with Mary Badham (Scout) during the making of To Kill a Mockingbird. They remained in contact until his death. And according to Badham, she always called him Atticus and he always called her Scout.

Campaigned for Harry S. Truman in the 1948 presidential election.

In late November of 2005, thieves stole Peck's "Hollywood Walk of Fame" star using a cement saw to cut the bronze-and-terrazzo marker out of the sidewalk. In a simple ceremony, a new star honoring the late actor was unveiled on December 1st to replace the stolen one. Hollywood's honorary mayor Johnny Grant lifted a covering and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, we proudly welcome back to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Gregory Peck." Peck's star was the fourth to be stolen since the Walk of Fame was inaugurated. James Stewart's and Kirk Douglas' stars disappeared some years ago after being removed for construction and were later recovered by police in the nearby city of South Gate. Gene Autry's star also vanished during a construction project. A call saying it had been found in Iowa proved to be a false alarm.

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

One of his greatest heroes from childhood was President Abraham Lincoln. Peck was initially concerned about playing him in "The Blue and the Gray" (1982) (mini), since at 66 he was a decade older than Lincoln was when he was assassinated.

After Peck stormed off the set of The Big Country (1958), director William Wyler said of him: "I wouldn't direct Peck again for a million dollars and you can quote me on that.".

Turned down Gary Cooper's Oscar-winning role as Marshal Will Kane in High Noon (1952) because he felt the story was too similar to his The Gunfighter (1950). When the film proved to be a huge success Peck admitted he had made a mistake, though he said he didn't believe he could have played the character as well as Cooper.

Recipient, Screen Actor's Award (from the Screen Actor's Guild, for his "outstanding achievement in fostering the finest ideals in the acting profession. Recipient, American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. [1989]

During the Vietnam War Peck was a vocal supporter of teenagers who dodged the draft, calling them "patriots" and "heroes" and saying that burning their draft cards was part of their civic duty. He produced an anti-war film, The Trial of the Catonsville Nine (1972) using his own money in order to provoke more opposition to the conflict.

He was of British, Irish, Scottish and Armenian heritage.

In his 80s his frail and thin appearance frequently sparked press rumors of his impending death, particularly when in 2001 he attended Jack Lemmon's funeral with his head bandaged from a recent fall.

Was in the original version of Cape Fear (1962) in 1962, playing Sam Bowden. He was later brought back for a part in the 1991 version, playing Max Cady's attorney.

His family has said in interviews that during his final days of life, film studios everywhere sent him presents as a "thank you" for the memories. Disney accidentally sent him an unfinished black and white copy of the pilot episode of "Dave the Barbarian" (2004). After watching it, he sent it back to them with a little message "Congratulations, you found the next Mickey Mouse".

In 1996, veteran character actor Richard Jaeckel, who had co-starred with Peck in the 1950 film "The Gunfighter" was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. Sadly, Jaeckel's wife had been diagnosed with Alzheimers' disease and he had lost his Brentwood, California home, as well as facing over a million dollars in medical bills and debt. Jaeckel had basically became homeless and his family tried unsuccessfully to enter him into the Woodland Hills' Motion Picture and Television Hospital. Peck took it upon himself to lobby Jaeckel's admittance into the hospital and he was treated within three days. Jaeckel stayed in the hospital until June of 1997, when he lost his battle with the deadly skin cancer.

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

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

He had always wanted to do a Disney movie.

While filming The Bravados (1958), he decided to become a cowboy in real life, so he purchased a vast working ranch near Santa Barbara, California - already stocked with 600 head of prize cattle.

His election as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1967 was widely seen as heralding in a new, younger, progressive and decidedly liberal era of filmmaking in Hollywood.

In 1987 he joined Burt Lancaster, Martin Sheen and Lloyd Bridges in narrating a TV advertisement for the People for the American Way, in opposing the confirmation of President Ronald Reagan's nominee to the Supreme Court, conservative judge Robert Bork. Bork, under intense criticism in part because of his past strong opposition to civil rights laws, ultimately withdrew his name from contention.

Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1979.

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

Children, with Kukkonen, Jonathan (b. 1944 - d. 1975), Stephen Peck (b. 1945), Carey Paul Peck (b. 1949).

He had Catholic Armenian roots from his paternal grandfather, Sam "Peck", an immigrant from England. After he married his second wife, Veronique Passani, she had his ancestry traced and discovered the Armenian lineage. Urging him to learn of his partial Armenian heritage and to learn the Armenian language, he took Armenian classes in his middle age. But, by then, his public persona was fixed. "Gregory" is a common Indo-European name and Armenian surname (Gregorian or Krikorian) and was the name of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, Apostle of Armenia (332 AD).

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

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

In 1948, at the height of the McCarthyite anti-Communist hysteria sweeping the country, he was called before a "fact finding committee" set up by the California Legislature to ferret out alleged Communists and their sympathizers in the entertainment industry. He was summoned because of his association with a host of "liberal" organizations and causes, along with several other stars. He gave the committee a list of every organization to which he had contributed money, along with their letterheads, and said that he contributed to them because they were legitimate organizations. He told the committee, "I am not now and never have been associated with any communist organization or supporters of communism. I am not a communist, never was a communist and I have no sympathy with communist activities".

Son of Gregory Pearl Peck and wife Bernice Mae Ayres.

A physically powerful man, Peck 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 in the movie. He recalled feeling the impact of the punch for days afterwards and said, "I don't feel sorry for anyone dumb enough who picks a fight with him.".

Charter Member, National Council on the Arts. [1968-1974]

In 1997, as a presenter at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) awards ceremony, he said, "It just seems silly to me that something so right and simple has to be fought for at all."

President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. [1967-1970]

Personally chose Lewis Milestone to direct the anti-war movie Pork Chop Hill (1959), because Milestone's All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) had made a deep impression on him.

Studied acting with Michael Chekhov

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

By 1974, following a series of flops, Peck's 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).

Broke his ankle in three places in a fall from a horse while filming Yellow Sky (1948).

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

In the early 1990s Peck considered writing his autobiography, however he decided against it when he realized he wasn't as good at writing as his friend David Niven.

Chairman, Motion Picture & Television Relief Fund. [1971]

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

President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. [1967]

In the spring of 1939, Peck skipped graduation at the University of California at Berkeley and, with $160 and a letter of introduction in his pocket, went by train to New York, traveling coach, to embark on his acting career.

Once owned a thoroughbred named "Different Class," who was the favorite in the 1968 Grand National Steeplechase in the UK - but finished 3rd.

Special Academy Award - Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. [1967]

Oldest son, Jon, committed suicide by gunshot. [1975]

He had always wanted to act in a Shakespearean play, but by the time the opportunity presented itself in 1951 he decided it was too late to start.

He was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1998 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.

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.

His favorite singers were Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson.

Advertised Chesterfield cigarettes.

He was originally cast in the role played by Robert Taylor in Quo Vadis (1951).

He and The Big Country (1958) co-star Charlton Heston both played the infamous Nazi war criminal Dr. Josef Mengele: Peck in The Boys from Brazil (1978), Heston in My Father, Rua Alguem 5555 (2003).

Recipient, Presidential Medal of Freedom, nation's highest civilian award, awarded by Lyndon Johnson. [1969]

Made the controversial decision to delay The 40th Annual Academy Awards (1968) (TV) following the assassination of Martin Luther King.

In December 2002 Peck visited his wife in hospital in Los Angeles after she underwent surgery to relieve pressure on two vertebrae. The sight of the veteran actor in hospital sparked more press rumors that he was seriously ill.

Brock Peters delivered his eulogy on the day of his funeral and burial, June 16, 2003. In To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), Peters played Tom Robinson, the black man accused of raping a white girl that Atticus Finch (Peck's character) defended in court.

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.

In the 1950s, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson, AZ, named one of their male javalinas "Gregory Peckory" in his honor; incidentally, their female was named "Olivia de Javalina" to honor actress Olivia de Havilland.

Seriously considered challenging then California Governor Ronald Reagan's re-election campaign in 1970 but decided against it at the last minute despite state and national pressure from the Democrat Party of California and The Democratic National Committee.

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. When it went on to gross more than $60 million in the U.S. alone, The Omen (1976) produced the highest-paid performance of Peck's career.

U.C. Berkeley graduate (BA '39) Oarsman on Cal's JV crew team.

Mourners for the public service held after his burial held huge black-and-white portraits of Peck as they approached the Cathedral, designed by Robert Grayam, husband of Anjelica Huston. Church officials estimated that almost 3,000 people attended. Seats were reserved for Peck's 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 Cardinal Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, presided over the service. The program included bible readings by Peck's 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 co-starred with Peck 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.".

When he was the President of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Science, he tried his hardest to get a full-length animated feature film (most notably the The Jungle Book (1967/I)) not only nominated for Best Picture Academy Award but actually win the award. He resigned as President in 1970 when other members didn't agree with him about animated films being nominated for the award.

He was considered for Rock Hudson's role in Ice Station Zebra (1968).

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

In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck among the Greatest Male Stars of All Time, ranking at No. 12.

Along with Dorothy McGuire, Mel Ferrer and David O. Selznick, he co-founded the La Jolla Playhouse, located in his hometown, and produced many of the classics there. Due to film commitments, he could not return to Broadway but whet his appetite for live theater on occasion at the Playhouse, keeping it firmly established with a strong, reputable name over the years.

Was President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences during the late 1960s, and he was the one who decided to postpone the 1968 Oscar ceremony after Martin Luther King's assassination.

He was voted the 58th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) is the #2 ranked film on the American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time.

While studying at UC Berkeley, Peck was a houseboy for the school's chapter of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

Father-in-law of Daniel Voll.

When he came to Italy to shoot Roman Holiday (1953), Gregory was privately depressed about his recent separation and imminent divorce from his first wife, Greta. However, during the shot, he met and fell in love with a French woman named Veronique Passani. After his divorce, he married Passani and they remained together for the rest of his life. So, in a way, he lived out his own "movie romance".

In late November 2005, his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was stolen (not an easy undertaking as it required sawing out a concrete block). The star was replaced a few days later with a new one.

He was a close friend of Humphrey Bogart, and visited him regularly during Bogart`s illness. Peck was reportedly devastated by the star`s death in January 1957.

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

His mother died in May 1992 at the age of 97.

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

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.

He was given the role of Ambassador Robert Thorn in The Omen (1976) after Charlton Heston turned it down in order to make Midway (1976).

As a board member of Handgun Control Inc. (along with Martin Sheen and Susan Sarandon), Peck was sometimes criticized for his friendship with Charlton Heston, a longtime advocate of gun ownership who served as President of the National Rifle Assocation (NRA) from 1998 to 2003. When questioned by James Brady, Peck said, "We`re colleagues rather than friends. We`re civil to each other when we meet. I, of course, disagree vehemently with him on gun control.".

Appeared on President Richard Nixon`s infamous "List of Enemies" in 1972.

He was an active supporter of AIDS fund raising.

He was a close friend of Jane Fonda, and frequently attended political rallies with her.

He was a close friend of Michael Jackson for the last 25 years of his life, and often went horse riding with the singer at his Neverland Ranch. During the Jordie Chandler scandal in 1993, Peck wrote a letter defending Jackson. He also gave a glowing video tribute to Jackson at his 30th Anniversary concert in New York in 2001.

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.

In 1947, at the beginning of the anti-communist investigations in Hollywood, Peck signed a letter deploring the witch hunts despite being warned his signature could hurt his career.

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

He had always wanted to do a Walt Disney movie.

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

He was of English, Irish, Scottish and Armenian heritage.

Attended San Diego High School.

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

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

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).

Marched with Martin Luther King.

His paternal grandmother, Catherine Ashe, was an immigrant from County Kerry, Ireland. She was a relative of Thomas Ashe, an Irish patriot who fought the in Easter Rising in 1916 and died on hunger strike the following year.

Honorary chair, Los Angeles Library Foundation. [1995]

He took in former co-star Ava Gardner`s housekeeper and dog after her death in 1990.

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

National Chairman, American Cancer Society. [1966]

His earliest movie memory is of being so scared by The Phantom of the Opera (1925) at age 9 that his grandmother allowed him to sleep in the bed with her that night.