Friday, May 10, 1996
Gregory Peck is one of the last great gentlemen of
the silver screen.
Not only does the Academy Award-winning actor have a
list of credits that would impress any
of today's movie stars, he is gracious with his audience and
with journalists who interview him.
When the Sun contacted this living legend in Paris to
talk about the Calgary production of
his one-man show, Conversations With Gregory Peck, he was the
perfect gentleman. He was open, kind
and had made a special effort to prepare for the interview --
something today's top celebrities
rarely do.
Peck, 80, wants to clear up an erroneous story
published across the continent last month
suggesting he had given up acting.
"That was a misinterpretation. What I said to the man
is that I've retired unless a great
role should come along," says Peck.
"I don't want to jump out there and work just to be
seen. And I don't want to be the
darling old grand-daddy or an old western sourdough.
"I have no idea what a great role would be, but if
something great came along, I wouldn't
be able to resist it. But I'm not looking for work and I
haven't left acting."
Conversations is broken into three sections: The
first features clips from Peck's career;
in the second, Peck reminisces; and in the final third, he
answers audience questions.
"The one question that never fails is: 'Who's your
favorite leading lady?' And of course I
never answer it ... because some of these ladies are still
alive and well," Peck says, chuckling.
Peck's tales range from dinner parties with Gary
Cooper to horseback riding with Michael
Jackson at his Neverland Ranch.
"Michael Jackson started our friendship by calling me
and saying, 'I'd like to pay you a
visit.' He has actually memorized all the dialogue in To Kill A
Mockingbird and he was full of
questions about it," says Peck, who won a best-actor Oscar for
his role in that 1962 film.
When Peck isn't working, he loves to stroll the
streets of Paris and visit art exhibitions.
When he and his wife Veronique Passani are home in Los Angeles,
he enjoys gardening and tennis.
"I'm living the life of ease here (Paris) and I'm not
feeling guilty about it at all."
As for his tennis game...
"I play what I call easy doubles. I seldom break into
a run -- I play tennis by fast
walking!"
Conversations runs Sunday at the Jack Singer Concert
Hall.
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