I’ve loved this man for as long as I can remember. My parents were both fans of the Hollywood movies and all the stars of that era and I used to really enjoy watching the films with them. I thought Mr Peck was the most handsome man I had ever seen and when I was old enough to read my parents film magazines I learned that not only was he strikingly handsome, he was also a real gentleman, loved and admired by all who knew and worked with him. I was so happy when, in 2001, I was able to attend a tribute to Fred Astaire. Much as I was a fan of this amazing dancer/actor, the highlight of the evening would be seeing Mr Peck, who was to be one of the guests and I cried when they announced that he was unable to attend as he was unwell. I knew then that I would never get the chance to see him and it became my dream to one day visit his old hometown of La Jolla, which, thanks to some wonderful friends, I was able to do last year.
In my opinion, there has never been, and I doubt there will ever be, an actor who has the looks, talent and personality that Mr Peck had. He was truly one of a kind. I’m just so glad that I am still able to watch his wonderful performances on DVD. My favourites include Cape Fear, The Omen, The Keys To The Kingdom, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Yearling, Spellbound and Roman Holiday!