Brought to life on film by iconic actor Gregory Peck, the role of Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" is widely regarded by the film industry and critics as one of the greatest movie characters of all time. And while Peck had already established himself as a leading man prior to the release of the adaptation of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," it forever cemented the actor as a Hollywood legend. It was Peck's first and only win for the Best Actor Oscar.
Here are five quotes about Peck and his role of a lifetime:
1. "I lost both my parents when I was quite young, so he remained a big, big influence in my life until he died in 2003," Badham said. "We were very close and spoke on the phone regularly, even though I acted in only a couple of films after this one. I always called him Atticus and he still called me Scout right up to the end."
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Mary Badham, who played the pivotal role of Atticus' daughter Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird,"
said in an interview with the London Telegraph in 2012 that Peck was a source of guidance and encouragement not only during the film, but also throughout her life.
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2. "I heard how many people in the audiences had gone to law school because of Atticus or named their child Gregory or Atticus or named their daughters Scout," she said. "It wasn’t until then that I realized how lasting the influence of the film was on our whole nation, or fully became aware of how many generations of people it affected, and still does."
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Cecilia Peck, Gregory Peck's daughter, said she realized the lasting impact of the film while filming a documentary on her father ("A Conversation With Gregory Peck") in 1999 and 2000
in an interview with Movieline about the 50th anniversary of the "To Kill a Mockingbird" novel
3. "When the film version of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' came out in 1962, the character of Atticus became forever entwined with the actor who portrayed him, Gregory Peck."
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Lynn Neary, of NPR, reflecting on the novel's 50th anniversary in 2010
4. "Atticus Finch, the southern lawyer, widower, and father of two so beautifully brought to life by Gregory Peck in Robert Mulligan's adaptation of Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' turned my expectations upside down and presented me with a bona fide role model, someone whose qualities and actions could actively be applied to my own life."
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Neil Mitchell, of The Guardian, wrote about Peck’s qualities in "Why I'd Like to Be ... Gregory Peck in 'To Kill a Mockingbird.'"
5. "Regardless of Harper Lee's high opinion of Gregory Peck, the actor was not Universal Studio's first choice for the role. The part was allegedly offered to Rock Hudson. He was set to do it until the start of production was delayed, entering what today's Hollywood executives would call 'development hell.'"
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Scott McGee, Kerryn Sherrod, and Jeff Stafford, of Turner Classic Movies' "Behind the Camera"
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