Gregory Peck: A Man Of Dignity, Family, And Heart

In the timeless film Roman Holiday, Audrey Hepburn plays a princess who finds herself in a dizzying escapade in Rome. In one memorable scene, she sweetly asks Gregory Peck’s character, Joe, to help her undress after a night of adventure. But instead of taking advantage of the moment, Joe, ever the gentleman, offers her his pajamas and heads out for coffee. "You're sleeping on the couch, not the bed," he firmly yet kindly tells her. This scene perfectly captures Gregory Peck’s enduring charm and his commitment to portraying characters of integrity and moral strength.

The Gentleman on Screen and Off

Over the span of a remarkable half-century career, Gregory Peck became synonymous with dignity and moral fortitude. From Joe Bradley in Roman Holiday to the unforgettable Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, he embodied roles that resonated with audiences worldwide. Angie Dickinson once remarked, "There's a quiet power in his being that is almost awesome." Yet, behind the public image of the consummate gentleman lay a man who wrestled with personal sorrows and the weight of his own expectations. The tragic suicide of his son Jonathan in 1975 left him burdened with regret. "If I had been here in Los Angeles, he would most certainly have called me," Gregory reflected, his voice heavy with guilt.

A Childhood Shaped by Loss

Gregory’s deep-rooted belief in the importance of family stemmed from his own experiences growing up. Born Eldred Gregory Peck in La Jolla, California, his world was turned upside down at the tender age of five when his parents divorced. "He was born in La Jolla, a small coastal town in California," shares Gregory’s son Stephen Peck, a former Marine and president and CEO of U.S. Vets, a nonprofit aiding veterans. "His parents were divorced when he was young, so he spent many lonely days as a kid." Raised primarily by his grandmother, Gregory was sent to a military boarding school at the age of ten. It was there that he realized he wasn't alone in his struggles. Nearly all the other students also came from broken homes. "He had bits of insecurity, being from a divorced family," Stephen explains. "That kind of sticks with you."

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A Rising Star in Hollywood

In 1939, Gregory moved to New York to pursue his passion for acting. After making his mark on Broadway with three plays, he returned to California for his film debut in 1944’s Days of Glory. Around the same time, he married Greta Kukkonen, a hairdresser. Together, they had three sons—Jonathan, Stephen, and Carey Paul—and Gregory embraced fatherhood wholeheartedly. "When we were very young, we went to Yosemite because he had done that with his dad," recalls Stephen.

Gregory’s talent, work ethic, and striking good looks quickly set him apart in Hollywood. "He had that magic," says Lynn Haney Trowbridge, a close friend and author of Gregory Peck: A Charmed Life. "Women were just flocking in droves to the movie theaters to see him. He represented the kind of man that you could count on—gracious, old-fashioned, yet adventurous."

A Complex Family Life

Despite his success, Gregory’s commitment to his craft often meant he was away from home, which posed challenges for his family. "He was a good father, although he was gone a lot of the time. For a kid, that’s always a challenge," admits Stephen. Greta also found it difficult to cope with her husband’s frequent absences. Their marriage was already strained when Gregory met Véronique Passani, a French journalist sent to interview him in 1952. "Six months later, while filming Roman Holiday, he called her up at her newspaper and found her," shares their daughter Cecilia Peck.

The couple married the day after Gregory’s divorce was finalized in 1955. "Despite the 17-year age gap, they had a true partnership," says Trowbridge. Together, they became actively involved in various causes, including the National Council for the Arts and the nuclear disarmament movement. "I’m not a do-gooder," Gregory once remarked. "I simply take part in activities that I believe in."

A Blended Family and Legacy of Love

Véronique and Gregory had two children, Anthony and Cecilia, but they also worked tirelessly to create a strong, loving blended family with Gregory’s sons from his first marriage. "He liked bringing us all together," Stephen fondly remembers. "He was always present and a really good listener." However, the tragic suicide of his son Jonathan in 1975 left Gregory devastated. Jonathan, a TV newsman, was grappling with health issues, a painful breakup, the loss of a close friend, and work-related stress when he died. "I’d have told him, ‘If the job is too much pressure, quit it, tell ’em to stuff it,’” Gregory lamented, haunted by the loss.