Gregory Peck Now a Man of Letters

On April 28, the U.S. Postal Service released a statement naming the late Gregory Peck as the 17th inductee into their “Legends of Hollywood” stamp series. The revered film and stage actor, who was also a local native, co-founded the .

Peck, who passed away in 2003, is remembered for his world-renowned film appearances and contributions to the motion picture and stage acting arts over a lifetime. Locally, his vision for revitalizing live stage performances through the conception of La Jolla Playhouse exemplifies the legacy he left behind.  

Peck lent an individual charisma to each of his roles, capturing the attention of audiences everywhere. In addition to his character portrayals, the actor was also known for his political and social activism in his off-screen life.

In a release, USPS Board of Governors member Dennis Toner said, “In so many of his roles, Mr. Peck portrayed brave, effective men of great moral conviction with an ease that suggested there was a thin line between the movie role and the off-screen personality.”  

One such role is emblazoned on the U.S. Postal Service stamp honoring Peck’s life and career. The stamp shows the actor in character as Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), the role that earned Peck an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

The stamp is currently available at most branches of the U.S. Postal Service and can be purchased in groups of 20 for the regular price of first-class mail postage. Buyers will enjoy the stamps' display on a sheet, featuring a portrait of Peck with his Oscar statue and a mini-biography.

A clerk at the downtown of the U.S. Postal Service, who preferred to remain unnamed, said, “I expect this stamp will sell very well here. They just don’t make them like him (Gregory Peck) anymore.”  

Other actors featured in past editions of the “Legends of Hollywood” stamp series include Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.