When we talk about Hollywood legends, Gregory Peck's name lights up the screen like a beacon. Known for iconic performances in films like To Kill a Mockingbird, Roman Holiday, and How the West Was Won, Gregory wasn’t just a star on the silver screen. To those who knew him best, his most cherished role was as a family man, a role that defined his life off-camera just as much as his acting did on it.
Before Gregory Peck became the Hollywood icon we all know, his early life was marked by challenges that deeply influenced his views on family. At just six years old, his world turned upside down when his parents divorced. This pivotal event left an indelible mark on Gregory, shaping his understanding of the importance of familial bonds. “He carried bits of insecurity from growing up in a divorced family — it’s something that stays with you,” Gregory’s son, Stephen Peck, revealed exclusively to Closer Weekly. Stephen added, “Despite that, Dad had a profound appreciation for family and truly loved having loved ones around him.”
In 1942, Gregory Peck found love and tied the knot with Greta Kukkonen. Together, they welcomed three sons: Jonathan Peck, Stephen Peck, and Carey Paul Peck. However, as Gregory's acting career skyrocketed, his time at home dwindled, putting a strain on his marriage. After 13 years, the couple decided to part ways in 1955. “Everything hit at once. They were really going in different directions,” explained Lynn Haney Trowbridge, a close friend and author of Gregory Peck: A Charmed Life. Yet, what stood out was their ability to remain friends long after their marriage ended. “It meant a lot that they could still call each other and talk. That friendship lasted all through his life,” Trowbridge shared.
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Gregory with his first wife, Greta, and their three sons.
Despite the heartache of his first marriage ending in divorce, Gregory Peck found love again with French journalist Veronique Passani. Their connection was nothing short of magical. “She had huge, glowing eyes and a face brimming with vitality, intelligence, heart, and humor. I found myself when I found Veronique,” Gregory once said. They tied the knot in 1955 and welcomed two more children, Cecilia Peck and Anthony Peck. “They had a real soulmate kind of relationship. Anyone looking at it would think, 'Oh my God, to get that in my life!’” Trowbridge remarked. Gregory was determined to be the father he always wanted to be, and he succeeded in his second marriage.