George Peppard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George Peppard
Peppard in 1964
Born	George William Peppard (1928-10-01)October 1, 1928 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	May 8, 1994(1994-05-08) (aged 65) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Northview Cemetery, Dearborn, Michigan
Alma mater	Pittsburgh Playhouse Carnegie Mellon University Purdue University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1951–1994
Spouse(s)	Helen Davies ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1964)​ Elizabeth Ashley ​ ​ (m. 1966; div. 1972)​ Sherry Boucher ​ ​ (m. 1975; div. 1979)​ Alexis Adams ​ ​ (m. 1984; div. 1986)​ Laura Taylor ​ ​ (m. 1992)​
Children	3

Linda Evans and Peppard in TV's Banacek (1974)

George Peppard (born October 1, 1928 – died May 8, 1994) was a famous American actor. He is best known for his roles in movies and TV shows.

He played Paul Varjak in the classic movie Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) with Audrey Hepburn. He also starred in The Carpetbaggers (1964). On television, he was the lead in the mystery series Banacek in the 1970s. Later, he became very popular as Col. John "Hannibal" Smith, the clever leader of a special team in the 1980s action TV show The A-Team.

Early Life and Education

George William Peppard Jr. was born in Detroit, Michigan, on October 1, 1928. His father, George Peppard Sr., was a building contractor. His mother, Vernelle Rohrer, was an opera singer and voice teacher.

George graduated from Dearborn High School in 1946. After high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1946. He served until 1948, reaching the rank of corporal.

After his military service, Peppard studied civil engineering at Purdue University. He was part of the Purdue Playmakers, a theater group. He soon realized he loved acting more than engineering. He later said, "It was the best decision I ever made."

He then transferred to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1955. While in Pittsburgh, he also worked as a radio DJ. Peppard was also a pilot and loved flying his own Learjet.

Becoming an Actor

Early Stage and TV Work

George Peppard started his acting career on stage in 1949 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. He later moved to New York City to study acting at the Actors Studio. To support himself, he worked many different jobs. He was a disc jockey, a radio engineer, a fencing teacher, and even a taxi driver.

He performed in summer theater shows and at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. His first TV role was in "Lamp Unto My Feet." He appeared in several TV shows like The United States Steel Hour and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

His first movie role was in The Strange One in 1957. In 1958, he played a key role in the TV drama Little Moon of Alban. He also had a supporting role in the Korean War movie Pork Chop Hill (1959).

Joining MGM Studios

In 1958, Peppard appeared on Broadway in a play called The Pleasure of His Company. While doing the play, he got a contract with MGM, a big movie studio.

His first major film for MGM was Home from the Hill (1960). It was a respected film directed by Vincente Minnelli and starred Robert Mitchum. This movie helped him become more known.

Film Stardom and Big Roles

George Peppard in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Peppard's good looks and acting talent led him to his most famous movie role. He played Paul Varjak in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) alongside Audrey Hepburn. This movie was a huge success.

After Breakfast at Tiffany's, he starred in the epic Western film How the West Was Won (1962). This movie was also a massive hit. He then appeared in the war film The Victors (1963).

In 1964, he starred in The Carpetbaggers. This movie was based on a popular novel. He played a powerful aviation and film boss. He later married his co-star from this film, Elizabeth Ashley.

Peppard continued to make war films like Operation Crossbow (1965) and The Blue Max (1966). In The Blue Max, he played a German World War One pilot. He also starred in Tobruk (1967) with Rock Hudson.

He signed a contract with Universal Studios for several films. These included the Western Rough Night in Jericho (1967) and the detective film P.J. (1968). He also appeared in thrillers like Pendulum (1969) and The Executioner (1970).

Television Success and The A-Team

Banacek and Other TV Roles

In the early 1970s, George Peppard found new success on television. He starred in the series Banacek (1972–1974). He played Thomas Banacek, a rich detective who solved big thefts for insurance companies. The show was part of The NBC Mystery Movie.

After Banacek, he appeared in the action film Newman's Law (1974). He also made TV movies like One of Our Own (1975). He starred in the science-fiction film Damnation Alley (1977).

In 1979, he acted in, directed, and produced a drama called Five Days from Home. This was a very important project for him. He also appeared in TV movies like Crisis in Mid-air (1979).

Joining The A-Team

In 1980, Peppard was offered a role in the TV series Dynasty. However, he left the show during filming because he felt the role was too similar to another character on TV. This turned out to be a good thing, as it allowed him to take on his most famous role.

In 1982, George Peppard was cast as Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith in the action-adventure series The A-Team. He starred alongside Mr. T, Dirk Benedict, and Dwight Schultz.

In The A-Team, his character, Hannibal, was the leader of a group of former soldiers. They were on the run from the military but helped people who needed justice. Hannibal was known for smoking cigars, his confident smile, and his famous line, "I love it when a plan comes together." Peppard enjoyed the role because Hannibal often used disguises, allowing him to play different characters.

The A-Team first aired in January 1983 and was an instant hit. It quickly became one of the most-watched shows in the country. The series ran for five seasons until 1987. This show made George Peppard famous to a whole new generation of fans.

Later Career and Life

After The A-Team, Peppard continued to act. His last TV series was a set of TV movies called Man Against the Mob (1988). He played a detective named Frank Doakey. A second film, Man Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders, aired in 1989.

In his later years, Peppard also performed in several stage plays. In 1988, he played the famous writer Ernest Hemingway in a play called PAPA. He also toured in The Lion in Winter in 1992, playing King Henry II.

His final TV role was a guest appearance in a 1994 episode of Matlock. This episode was meant to be a pilot for a new series about a father and daughter who were private investigators. It aired just eight days before his death.

Personal Life

George Peppard was married five times and had three children. He lived in a cottage in Hollywood Hills, California.

Health and Passing

George Peppard smoked cigarettes for most of his life. In 1992, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery. He then quit smoking.

Despite his health problems, he kept acting. On May 8, 1994, George Peppard died from pneumonia in Los Angeles. He was buried in his hometown of Dearborn, Michigan, in Northview Cemetery, as he had wished.

Awards and Recognition

• 1960 NBR Award (National Board of Review of Motion Pictures) for Home from the Hill as Best Supporting Actor
• 1961 British Academy Film Award nomination, Category: Most Promising Newcomer To Leading Film Roles for Home From The Hill
• Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Category Motion Pictures, 6675 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles)

Filmography

Select Theatre Credits

• Girls of Summer (1956–1957)
• The Pleasure of His Company (1958–1959)
• The Sound of Music (1982)
• Papa (1988)
• The Lion in Winter (1991–1992)

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See also

In Spanish: George Peppard para niños