June 23, 2003

ON NOBLE FELLOW PASSENGER GREGORY PECK

A recent popular ranking by the nonprofit arts organization the American Film Institute (AFI) named idealistic attorney Atticus Finch from 1962’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” as the greatest hero in 100 years of film history, beating out such ever-popular good guys as Han Solo, James Bond and Rocky Balboa.

Atticus never swung a light saber or scored a knockout in the 15th round. But he was a champion for small-town justice and instilled compassion and sensitivity in the hearts of his children.

“You never know someone until you step inside their skin and walk around a little,” said Atticus, as memorably portrayed by one of the great American actors, Gregory Peck.

Peck died on June 12 at age 87, a little over a week after the AFI ranking of Atticus as the greatest American film hero was announced.

Gregory Peck on the 1985 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon

Peck’s place in Hollywood legend is assured, not only for his performance in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” but for the passion and skill he brought to a great variety of roles, from romances ("Roman Holiday") to Hitchcock thrillers (“Spellbound”) to horror films (“The Omen”).

Could it be that Peck’s portrayals were so impressive due in part to the actor’s humanity in real life?

For all of us at MDA, an organization for which Peck volunteered his time and talent on a number of occasions, the answer is a resounding yes.

A longtime friend of MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis, Peck made several memorable appearances on Jerry’s MDA Labor Day Telethon.

During one particularly memorable Telethon appearance in the 1980s, Peck read a passage from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” one in which the great author reminds us that we are all “fellow passengers” in life. Peck expanded on this theme by saying:

“MDA has always relied for help on people like you. We’re all in this world together – even if for a relatively brief span. Let us try to remember what we all owe to each other – that we’re bound together by a need for kindness, love and charity. Let us indeed remember that we are all fellow passengers – not different beings bound on different journeys. Open your heart and give as generously as you can. Thank you.”

Peck brought to his Telethon appearances the depth of conviction an actor usually brings to a Shakespeare performance.

That’s not to say he wasn’t without a lighter side. On the contrary, a letter Jerry Lewis received from his friend in 1988 shows Peck in a wonderfully irascible and irreverent vein. And please remember that Peck’s unfortunate experience with a credit card center employee is hardly representative of the superb contribution Telethon volunteers have always made and continue to make to our show’s success:

Dear Jerry,

Watching you on the Telethon recently, I dialed the 800 number and told them I wanted to give $1,000 on my American Express Card.

I got some dimwit who had never heard of me, couldn’t spell PECK, and said she couldn’t take the contribution unless I gave her my phone number. I told her my number was unlisted, and just put the contribution through on my credit card. Either the Telethon would get the money or it wouldn’t.

I hope you got the thousand. She was a real pain.

Forgetting that, you were super. The whole event was dynamite. Congratulations!

Yours,
Gregory Peck

Peck himself was a dynamite individual who was never stingy in sharing his humanity and talent to help advance MDA’s battle against neuromuscular diseases.

It’s a privilege to have had his willing help. How fortunate all of us were to have Gregory Peck as a “fellow passenger” whose gifts made this world a decidedly better place.

With every best wish...

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