Posted on 06/16/2003 1:41:39 PM PDT by NYer
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Hollywood will bid farewell to Oscar-winning screen legend Gregory Peck at a giant memorial service on Monday following a small private burial in Los Angeles, his publicist told AFP.
Peck died at home in his sleep Thursday at the age of 87.
The public mass in the city's huge new cathedral will be led by the head of the largest US Catholic diocese, Cardinal Roger Mahoney, and the eulogy was to be given by Peck's "To Kill A Mockingbird" co-star, Brock Peters.
Peck was considered a consummate movie star, known for playing heroes on the screen and for his noble conduct off it. His passing cuts one of the last links with the golden age of Hollywood.
"Given how well loved and respected Greg was, we expect a very large turnout at the service," said publicist Monroe Friedman, adding that a quiet family funeral was expected to take place at the weekend or early Monday.
"I think it's fascinating that of all the movers and shakers that Greg knew, that his eulogy should be conducted by his old friend Brock, whose character Greg defended so brilliantly in 'To Kill A Mockingbird.'"
In the 1962 movie, for which Peck won the best actor Oscar, his character Atticus Finch was right-minded southern US lawyer who defended a black man accused of raping a white woman in the then racially divided society.
The movie helped cement Peck's reputation for playing fearless and morally upright heroes and also spawned a close friendship between Peck and Peters that lasted for more than 40 years.
Friedman said Peters was distraught over Peck's death and that he was unable even to talk about it because he was so emotional.
"I'm sure he'll get through the eulogy but frankly I don't know how he'll manage it," Friedman said.
The new modernistic Cathedral of Our Lady Of The Angeles was opened last year and seats up to 3,000, one of the reasons that Peck's family wanted to hold the public memorial service there.
The public memorial service, which will take place at 2:00 pm (2200 GMT) Monday, will be attended by friends and family but seats are expected to be made available to the public, Friedman said.
Peck's wife of 48 years, Veronique and his four children -- two from each of his marriages -- have asked that instead of flowers mourners send donations to charities for which Peck worked tirelessly.
The two organisations are the Motion Picture and Television Fund that looks after old and sick actors and the Gregory Peck Literary Endowment of the Los Angeles Library Foundation which promotes reading and literature.
Several other Hollywood memorial services and events are expected to be held for Peck who was a past president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (news - web sites) and one of Tinseltown's best loved stars.
"He had such a remarkable career and life and had so many people who admired him and genuinely liked him, that if you have to go you couldn't do better than have been Gregory Peck for all those years," actor James Woods said of the star.
Attn CA freepers ... please post observations / news reporting / pix, if possible.
Attn "betting" freepers ... how many liturgical dancers will Mahony send down the aisle to entertain the Hollyweirdos in attendance?
Mahony said Peck had taken on the role of Finch, in which his character defended a black man -- played by Peters -- accused of rape in the racially divided American South, because of the importance of the movie's message.
"He said he needed to do this part because that story needed to be told," Mahony told mourners.
"He put all of his strength into that role not to win an Oscar ... but because we as Americans needed to have that story told and to be told as something higher and better."
Mahony praised the integrity of Peck the man and as well as Peck the actor.
"Gregory Peck is one of the few (people) who truly and deeply lived out all of the beatitudes," he said.
Altar boys light candles before the memorial service for late actor Gregory Peck (news), seen on a monitor at right, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, June 16, 2002. Screen legend Peck, who died on June 12, was laid to rest in a private family ceremony as film fans and leading movie industry figures gathered for a public memorial service to bid farewell to one of the last great heroes of Hollywood's golden era. (Gary Friedman/Pool via Reuters)
More Entertainment Photos Slideshows Snapshots USA TODAY Snapshot Which state has the most tennis players?More USA TODAY Snapshots News Resources News Alerts · Gregory Peck Search News Search: for Search Advanced Entertainment Photos - Reuters Add News Photos to My Yahoo! Prev. | Start | Next Mon Jun 16, 7:08 PM ET Rev. Robert Schuller, of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California and wife Arvella, arrive at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, for a memorial service for the late actor Gregory Peck (news), June 16, 2003. Screen legend Gregory Peck, who died on June 12, was laid to rest in a private family ceremony on Monday as film fans and leading movie industry figures gathered in a Los Angeles cathedral for a public memorial service to bid farewell to one of the last great heroes of Hollywood's golden era. REUTERS/Jim Ruymen
One of the reasons driving Cardinal Mahony to build his 3,000 seat cathedral was the competition down the road at the Crystal Cathedral. Just had to keep up with the Schuller's.
Mahony said Peck had taken on the role of Finch, in which his character defended a black man -- played by Peters -- accused of rape in the racially divided American South, because of the importance of the movie's message.
"He said he needed to do this part because that story needed to be told," Mahony told mourners.
"He put all of his strength into that role not to win an Oscar ... but because we as Americans needed to have that story told and to be told as something higher and better."
Mahony praised the integrity of Peck the man and as well as Peck the actor.
"Gregory Peck is one of the few (people) who truly and deeply lived out all of the beatitudes," he said.
Altar boys light candles before the memorial service for late actor Gregory Peck (news), seen on a monitor at right, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, June 16, 2002. Screen legend Peck, who died on June 12, was laid to rest in a private family ceremony as film fans and leading movie industry figures gathered for a public memorial service to bid farewell to one of the last great heroes of Hollywood's golden era. (Gary Friedman/Pool via Reuters)
More Entertainment Photos Slideshows Snapshots USA TODAY Snapshot Which state has the most tennis players?More USA TODAY Snapshots News Resources News Alerts · Gregory Peck Search News Search: for Search Advanced Entertainment Photos - Reuters Add News Photos to My Yahoo! Prev. | Start | Next Mon Jun 16, 7:08 PM ET Rev. Robert Schuller, of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California and wife Arvella, arrive at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, for a memorial service for the late actor Gregory Peck (news), June 16, 2003. Screen legend Gregory Peck, who died on June 12, was laid to rest in a private family ceremony on Monday as film fans and leading movie industry figures gathered in a Los Angeles cathedral for a public memorial service to bid farewell to one of the last great heroes of Hollywood's golden era. REUTERS/Jim Ruymen
One of the reasons driving Cardinal Mahony to build his 3,000 seat cathedral was the competition down the road at the Crystal Cathedral. Just had to keep up with the Schuller's.
Not a problem, according to Mahony ....
"Gregory Peck is one of the few (people) who truly and deeply lived out all of the beatitudes," he (Mahony) said. (see my post #7)
His pro-abortion stance doesn't surprise, nor does Liberace Mahoney's desire to hob-knob with the Hollywood crowd.
Since two-thirds of the American bishops shielded sexual predators, just name one, so I can join you in your outrage.
Mow 'em down!
Oh tell me you didn't miss the dedication of the LA cathedral last year! Just in case, here are a few mementos to enjoy (/sarcasm)
Just a sampling, mind you.
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