George Peppard

BIOGRAPHY

Peppard was born in Detroit , Michigan , as the son of an Opera singer and a building contractor. He graduated from Dearborn High School in Dearborn, Michigan and served in the Marine Corps. He attended Purdue University where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity (where he was studying Civil Engineering ) and Carnegie Mellon University . He made his stage debut in 1949 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse then enrolled in the Actors Studio in New York and worked in summer stock. A Broadway appearance in " The Pleasure Of His Company " in 1958 led to a MGM contract.

Peppard made his first television appearance, with a young Paul Newman , in an episode of The United States Steel Hour in 1956. A Broadway appearance in " The Pleasure Of His Company " in 1958 led to a MGM contract. His good looks and elegant manner helped him receive his most famous film role as Paul Varjak in Breakfast At Tiffany's ( 1961 ) with Audrey Hepburn . This role made him a major film star lasting from the early to late 60's. However, Peppard choose tough guys roles in big, ambitious pictures where he was somewhat overshadowed by ensemble casts. A drinking problem also started to affect his reputation.

After a string of B films in the early 70's Peppard moved to television. He had a leading role in the TV series '' Banacek '' ( 1972 - 1974 ), (part of the '' NBC Mystery Movie '' series of the 1970s ), and played in '' Doctors' Hospital '', in 1975 , and in several other television films, which became in the later part of his career his major dedication.

He was married five times, and the father of three children:

1) Helen Davies ( 1954 - 1964 ) (two children)

2) Elizabeth Ashley ( 1966 - 1972 ), his co-star in '' The Carpetbaggers '' (One son Christian)

3) Sherrry Boucher ( 1975 - 1979 )

4) Alexis Adams ( 1984 - 1986 )

5) Laura Taylor ( 1992 - 1994 )

Peppard finally gave up drinking in 1978 and spent his later years trying to help other alcholics enter into recovery.

A life long smoker Peppard was diagnosed with Lung Cancer in 1992 . He died of Pneumonia on May 8, 1994, at the age of 65. He is buried in Northview Cemetery in Dearborn, Michigan .

FILMOGRAPHY