Considered one of the most popular actors in the 1940s to the 1960s, Eldred Gregory Peck is undoubtedly one of the most iconic Hollywood stars of all time. Besides being a legendary actor, he was also an active humanitarian and contributed significantly to several social causes.
Born April 5, 1916, Peck is best known for his portrayal of Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962), for which he received the Academy Award for Best Actor. His other notable films include "Spellbound" (1945), "The Paradine Case" (1947), "Roman Holiday" (1953), "Moby Dick" (1956), "The Guns of Navarone" (1961), "The Omen" (1976) and "The Keys of the Kingdom" (1944), for which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor category.
In 1969, Peck was awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his lifetime humanitarian efforts. He was also named among the Greatest Male Stars of Classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute in 1999.
On June 12, 2003, at the age of 87, Peck died in his sleep at home from bronchopneumonia. As the world celebrates the renowned actor's birthday, here are some of his most memorable quotes:
"Tough times don't last, tough people do, remember?"
"Faith gives you an inner strength and a sense of balance and perspective in life."
"I'm not a do-gooder. It embarrassed me to be classified as a humanitarian. I simply take part in activities that I believe in."
"Inside of all the makeup and the character and makeup, it's you, and I think that's what the audience is really interested in... you, how you're going to cope with the situation, the obstacles, the troubles that the writer put in front of you."
"There we were, hundreds of us lined up, waving at the great man as he tipped his hat to us. And that is the extent of my acquaintance with Albert Einstein."
"My feeling about him is that the America that we have today, the freedoms we enjoy and the privileges we have, are really the reflection of Abe Lincoln's convictions, his vision, and his toughness."
Source: Brainy Quote
