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10 defining roles of legendary actor Gregory Peck

Jochen Kürten / egApril 5, 2016

Born 100 years ago on April 5, 1916, the Oscar-winning Hollywood icon Gregory Peck embodied both gloomy and inspiring characters.

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Gregory Peck, Duel in the Sun, 1946 - Copyright: picture alliance/Mary Evans Picture Library
Image: picture alliance/United Archives/IFTN

Many fans remember him for his Oscar-winning performance in the movie version of "To Kill a Mockingbird" in 1963, where he embodied the lawyer Atticus Finch.

Although just 46 at the time of the movie's release, Gregory Peck had already collected an impressive series of great film roles.

The hero of several classic Westerns, including "Duel in the Sun" (1946) and "The Gunfighter" (1950), he also played the lead in great adventure films and established himself as something of an action hero. His versatility as an actor meant he was just as impressive in melodramas as in comedies.

In the adaptation of Hemingway's "The Snows of Kilimanjaro," Peck left action behind for the role of the leading man - a bet that paid off when just a year later he appeared as Audrey Hepburn's love interest in the romance, "Roman Holiday."

The actor was a favorite among Hollywood's great directors such as Wiliam Wyler, Elia Kazan or John Huston and played in two Alfred Hitchcock films.

As we raise our glasses to Gregory Peck on what would be his centennial birthday, let's take a look back at some of the actor's most unforgettable roles.