Having grown up watching Gregory Peck in a variety of roles it is difficult to pick a favorite movie role. But his role as Atticus Finch went beyond the entertainment value of movie watching, to having helped inform my positions on equality, social justice and racism. He taught the viewer with an understated, likable, and wise demeanor. Likewise, his character in Gentlemen’s Agreement played a pivotal role in exposing the ugliness of oppression and anti-Semitism. I’m so grateful for his wide ranging and important works that I still enjoy and appreciate today. He truly remains a hero for me.