Trivia

Told the media how relieved he was shortly after The A-Team (1983) ended in 1986 because he likened the megahit series to "an out-of-control freight train that would never stop!".

Studied at the famed Actors' Studio, with renowned acting coach, Lee Strasberg. One of his classmates was Rip Torn.

Had a cancerous tumor removed from lung, so he quit smoking after many years (1992).

In 1978, he conquered a serious drinking problem. He would spend much of his latter years helping alcoholics and working for various charitable organizations.

He was the original choice for Steve McQueen's role in The Magnificent Seven (1960).

Buried in Northview Cemetery in Dearborn, Michigan.

Born to George Peppard Sr., a building contractor, and his wife, Vernelle Rohrer, an opera singer. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at age 17 after graduating from Dearborn High School (Dearborn, Michigan). He later attended Purdue and Carnegie Mellon universities. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity at Purdue.

By the end of the 1970s, George Peppard was considered box office poison and his reputation for being a troublemaker had started to precede him.

George's last acting role was as Max Morgan on a March 1994 episode of Matlock (1986). This whodunnit pilot episode for a proposed spin-off series co-starred Tracy Nelson as his one-time estranged daughter Jesse, with "Matlock" star Andy Griffith appearing only briefly in the beginning of the episode. Sadly, George died of pneumonia that May, less than two months later, before the planned series could start filming.

Was known for displaying considerable temperament on a film and TV set and often clashed with directors and fellow actors alike.

Was originally cast as Blake Carrington on Dynasty (1981). During the shooting of the pilot episode, he reportedly clashed with the producers over the characterization of Blake Carrington. Peppard argued that the character was too similar to J.R. Ewing of Dallas (1978). Peppard was fired after three weeks of shooting. The role was recast with John Forsythe and all the scenes with Peppard were reshot.

Peppard's widow, Laura Taylor Peppard, a former Palm Beach banker, is a licensed Mental Health Counselor who maintains a practice in Lake Worth, Florida.

He was in the running to replace Pete Duel as Hannibal Heyes in Alias Smith and Jones (1971).

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6675 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on July 17, 1985.

Made an infamous appearance on Password Plus (1979), expressing dissatisfaction with NBC executives watching them "as if you're some sort of crook" (1979).

While attending Drama School at Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) in Pittsburgh, George had a weekend job at WLOA Radio in nearby Braddock. WLOA is where his famous "flow snurries" story came from - a story that he told hundreds of times over the years on various TV talk shows.

Father of Brad Peppard, Julie Peppard and Christian Peppard.

Appeared in one film nominated for Best Picture Oscar: How the West Was Won (1962).

Father, with Elizabeth Ashley, of son Christian Peppard, who is a writer.

Smoked three packs of cigarettes a day.

It was announced that he was to star in MGM's "Merrily We Roll Along", based on the Broadway stage hit and due to film on June 1965, with George Seaton as the director.

Was a passionate Democrat, and championed health care reform before his death.

He has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) and How the West Was Won (1962).

Was originally chosen to play Blake Carrington on the television series Dynasty (1981), but was fired from the role after disagreements with the series' producers.

George Peppard was so keen to get the role in The Blue Max that he did 4 months flying training so that he could do his own flying in the film. By the time filming started he'd done 210 hours of flying on his pilots log 150 of which were solo.

Born at 8:29 pm EST.