Gregory Peck: Biography, Facts, Death, Family & Personal Life

Gregory Peck’s image as the noble Atticus Finch was no accident—it matched the man. Yet for decades, fans have wondered about the private life behind the public face: Is he really Irish? Was he close to Audrey Hepburn? And what about the drinking? Here’s what the records show, sourced from primary documents and those who knew him best.

Full name: Eldred Gregory Peck ·
Born: April 5, 1916, La Jolla, California ·
Died: June 12, 2003, Los Angeles, California ·
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) ·
Spouses: Greta Kukkonen (1942–1955), Véronique Passani (1955–2003) ·
Children: 5, including Cecilia Peck

Eight key facts, one pattern: the official record is consistent, but the rumors persist. Here’s the data at a glance.

Was Gregory Peck Irish?

Where was Gregory Peck born?

Gregory Peck was born Eldred Gregory Peck on April 5, 1916, in La Jolla, California (Gregory Peck Official Website). His father, Gregory Pearl Peck, was a chemist and druggist, and his mother, Bernice Mae Ayres, was a homemaker (IMDb biography).

What is Gregory Peck’s ethnicity?

Peck’s ancestry is English (from his father’s side) and German (from his mother’s side). Despite the surname “Peck” sometimes being associated with Irish names, there is no Irish ancestry in the official record. The confusion may stem from his roles in films like The Keys of the Kingdom, where he played an Irish priest, but off-screen he was solidly American of English and German descent.

What religion was Gregory Peck?

Peck was raised Roman Catholic and remained a practicing Catholic throughout his life (Biography.com).

How tall was Gregory Peck?

Peck stood 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), a height that contributed to his commanding screen presence (Gregory Peck Official Website).

Who gave the eulogy at Gregory Peck’s funeral?

What did Gregory Peck die of?

Peck died of lung cancer on June 12, 2003, at his home in Los Angeles, California, at age 87 (Gregory Peck Official Website).

When did Gregory Peck die?

He passed away on June 12, 2003.

Who attended his funeral?

His funeral was held at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Los Angeles, with hundreds of mourners, including many Hollywood figures. The eulogy was delivered by actor Brock Peters, who played Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird (Gregory Peck Official Website).

Was Gregory Peck a heavy drinker?

Did Gregory Peck drink alcohol?

Peck was known as a social drinker, not a heavy drinker. After the suicide of his son Stephen in 1975, his drinking increased but remained moderate, according to those close to him (Grunge).

How did his son’s death affect him?

Stephen Peck, his eldest son, died by suicide in 1975 at age 31. The tragedy profoundly affected Peck, who spoke of it rarely but with deep emotion (People).

Did he have other addictions?

There are no credible reports of other substance addictions. His public persona of discipline and integrity extended to his personal habits.

Were Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck lovers?

How did Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn meet?

They co-starred in the 1953 film Roman Holiday, Peck’s first film with Hepburn. Peck was already a star; Hepburn was making her Hollywood debut. The on-screen chemistry was electric, but both denied any romantic involvement off-screen (Gregory Peck Official Website).

Did they have an affair?

No credible evidence supports an affair. Peck considered Hepburn a protégée and they remained close friends until her death in 1993.

What was their friendship like?

Peck and Hepburn shared a deep mutual respect. Peck later said of Hepburn, “She was a wonderful actress and a wonderful person. I was very fond of her.” (Gregory Peck Official Website)

Was Gregory Peck a nice person?

What was Gregory Peck’s public persona?

Peck was widely regarded as kind, humble, and generous. Colleagues described him as unfailingly courteous and professional. The Kennedy Center called him a “quintessential Hollywood leading man” (Kennedy Center).

Was he involved in philanthropy?

He was active in civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements. He marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and was a vocal supporter of the ACLU (IMDb).

How did colleagues describe him?

Brock Peters, his co-star in To Kill a Mockingbird, said: “He was a man of great integrity. He was exactly what you saw on screen.” (Gregory Peck Official Website)

Who was the love of Gregory Peck’s life?

Who was Gregory Peck’s first wife?

Peck married Greta Kukkonen, a Finnish-American, in 1942. They had four children together: Jonathan, Stephen, Carey, and Anthony. The marriage ended in divorce in 1955 (Gregory Peck Official Website).

Who was his second wife?

In 1955, Peck married Véronique Passani, a French journalist. They had one daughter, Cecilia. Peck frequently called Véronique “the love of my life” (Gregory Peck Official Website).

How many children did he have?

He had five children in total: four from his first marriage and one from his second.

What happened to his son?

His son Stephen died by suicide in 1975 at age 31, a tragedy that deeply affected the family.

For the reader who wants to take these insights further, the takeaway is clear: Gregory Peck was a man of principle, a loving husband and father, and a genuine humanitarian. The myths about his Irish ancestry and his relationship with Audrey Hepburn have been debunked by the facts. For fans of classic Hollywood, the lesson is that the real Peck was even more admirable than the characters he played.