At 68, Gregory Peck’s Son Finally Breaks Silence About His Father

Stephen Peck, the eldest surviving son of Hollywood icon Gregory Peck, has broken his silence to share intimate memories and reflections on his father’s life and legacy.

Gregory Peck, born Eldred Gregory Peck in 1916 in La Jolla, California, rose to stardom in the 1940s and ’50s, becoming one of classic Hollywood’s most respected leading men.

Stephen explains that Gregory’s early childhood—marked by his parents’ divorce at age five and years spent with his grandmother and at military boarding school—shaped his father’s lifelong commitment to family unity.

He recalls that despite towering fame, his father always found time for them, making weekly lunches and tennis outings a part of their routine in later years.

Growing up in a blended family, Stephen cherished how Gregory and his second wife, Véronique Passani, worked to bring together children from his first marriage, fostering harmony and love.

From Gregory’s early Broadway performances in the late 1930s, Stephen admired his father’s range and integrity, traits that shone through in landmark films like Gentleman’s Agreement and To Kill a Mockingbird.

He speaks of Gregory’s moral compass and courage, as when he refused long-term Hollywood contracts and chose roles that challenged social norms.

Stephen emphasizes how his father’s portrayal of Atticus Finch wasn’t an act—it reflected his real-life beliefs in fairness, decency, and social justice.

Behind closed doors, though, Gregory wrestled with guilt over his absences, especially after tragedy struck in 1975.

His eldest son, Jonathan, died by suicide at age 30, while Gregory was in France, and Stephen recalls the deep sorrow and lifelong regret his father carried.

Stephen remembers his father saying, “My regret that I’ll live with for the rest of my life is that I was in France instead of California,” and that grief kept him from acting for two years.

Despite the pain, Stephen says Gregory refused to let tragedy consume him and leaned into family, becoming especially close to his grandchildren.

As a grandfather, Gregory delighted in simple moments like playing with Ethan, Stephen’s son, and their bond remained strong throughout the final chapter of his life.

Stephen admires how humble his father remained, insisting that movies were merely a “sideline” and that his children were “the most rewarding part of my life.”

He recalls a touching memory of Gregory defending Audrey Hepburn’s billing in Roman Holiday, insisting she deserved equal recognition—an act reflecting his respect for others.

Stephen sees that same quiet dignity in Gregory’s private generosity, from humanitarian activism to mentoring friends like Ingrid Bergman and supporting colleagues during hard times.

He reflects on the irony that despite representing moral uprightness on screen, his father’s real strength was his willingness to admit mistakes and show vulnerability.

Stephen believes this humility, more than any award or accolade, defines his father’s true legacy.

He points to Gregory’s steady activism—opposing McCarthyism, supporting civil rights, and aiding the American Cancer Society—as proof of a man whose values transcended fame.

Even as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, he used his influence thoughtfully, pausing the 1968 Oscars after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

Stephen admits his father’s gravitas sometimes intimidated him, but he learned the strength of leading with empathy and thoughtfulness.

He recounts once watching his dad act with humility, saying, “That’s what you’re really interested in … how you’re going to cope with the situations the writer puts in front of you.”

Stephen traces this resilience back to Gregory’s own childhood challenges—a lonely boy shaped by divorce and boarding school, who emerged with empathy for others.

At times, Stephen struggled to live in his father’s considerable shadow, but he says Gregory encouraged him to find his own voice and path.

Stephen honored that by serving in Vietnam as a Marine and eventually leading U.S. Vets, a nonprofit supporting homeless veterans—an endeavor his father quietly praised.

He shares how Gregory quietly supported his advocacy work, proud but never boastful, true to the modesty that defined him.

In Stephen’s view, the tragedy of losing Jonathan imbued their family with clarity—Gregory became more present, more focused on love and memory.

He says his father’s last years were filled with quiet joy: playing tennis, sharing meals, and cherishing time together.

When Gregory passed away in 2003, holding Véronique’s hand, Stephen found bittersweet solace in knowing his father died at peace and surrounded by love.

Now, at 68, Stephen speaks candidly about his father for the first time, offering a portrait of a man whose public heroism was matched only by private humility and love.

He hopes this honest reflection will help fans see Gregory Peck not only as an iconic screen legend, but as an imperfect, profound father and human being.

Stephen’s words remind us that real heroism lies in empathy, self-reflection, and the courage to face our own regrets.

In a world that remembers Atticus Finch’s moral certitude, Stephen offers a poignant addendum: Gregory Peck’s greatest strength was his willingness to learn, adapt, and love through it all.