Trivia of Gregory Peck

Trivia of Gregory Peck

*Strongly disliked his first name of Eldred, a name his mother insisted on giving him because she felt it was distinct and would distinguish him with its uniqueness, but to him it felt like an awkward and difficult name to use casually. Early in adulthood, he made it a point of using his middle name of Gregory, which he used for the rest of his life.

*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 both of them never worked together again.

*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.

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

*Cited that his favorite leading ladies were Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman and Ava Gardner.He took in former co-star Ava Gardner's housekeeper and dog after her death on 1/25/90.

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

*He was close friends with Michael Jackson for the last 25 years of his life, and often went horse riding with the singer at his Neverland Ranch. During the Jordan 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.