Peppard then turned to television, where he had a notable success with Banacek (197274), part of the NBC Mystery Movie series, starring in 90-minute whodunits as a wealthy Boston playboy who solves thefts for insurance companies for a finders fee. George Peppard - Bio, Personal Life, Family & Cause Of Death - CelebsAges Peppard's last series was intended to be several television movie features entitled Man Against the Mob (1988) and set in the 1940s. He was 65.<br> Peppard, who underwent lung cancer surgery two years ago, died Sunday night at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, said his publicist, Cheryl Kagan. [42], Instead MGM cast him in the lead of their epic western How the West Was Won in 1962 (his character spanned three sections of the episodic Cinerama extravaganza). Known as difficult in his professional and personal life, the versatile actor suffered long periods of unemployment and four divorces, two from actress Elizabeth Ashley, whom he met while filming The Carpetbaggers., Getting married and having a bad divorce is just like breaking your leg. [52] "He could carry these big films," said Filmink.[58]. On May 8, 1994, still battling lung cancer, Peppard died from pneumonia in Los Angeles. "It was a big blow," Peppard noted subsequently, adding he felt Forsythe ultimately did "a better job (as Blake Carrington) than I could have done. He also delivered one of his most critically acclaimed,[citation needed] though rarely seen, performances in the TV movie Guilty or Innocent: The Sam Sheppard Murder Case (1975), as Sam Sheppard. Years after, the NBC show, in '92, Peppard got diagnosed with Lung cancer, which was a result of the years he spent smoking two packs of cigarettes per day. He was admitted to the hospital on Thursday because he had trouble breathing, Ms.. [94], Peppard said "the first year of the show "it was kind of like Monty Python - absolutely ridiculous. George Peppard. Peppard, who underwent successful surgery for lung cancer two years ago, died Sunday night of pneumonia at UCLA Medical Center. His good looks, elegant manner and superior acting skills landed Peppard his most famous film role as Paul Varjak in Breakfast at Tiffanys with Audrey Hepburn, based on a story by Truman Capote. [63], In 1967, he bought the script Midnight Fair by Sheridan Greenway, to produce. With fewer interesting roles coming his way, he acted in, directed and produced the drama Five Days from Home in 1979. I love working for an audience. I mean, I get to disguise myself as a Chinese person, a Skid Row drunk, a gay hairdresser--I wanted to change from leading man to character actor for years now but have never been given the chance before.. He died from pneumonia in Los Angeles. Peppard had lung cancer and died of pneumonia on May 8, 1994 in Los Angeles . Ivi person ID. It wasn't, however, until 1961 when directors took more notice of Peppard, thanks to his part in Breakfast At Tiffany's as Paul Varjak. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Gloria Vanderbilt told Anderson Cooper not to expect a trust fund. And my objective is that one performance."[49]. When they start getting the million-dollar salary and the percentage, they start doing everything except what theyre equipped for--they start producing and directing.. George Peppard died of pneumonia in 1994 after a battle with lung cancer. But he is perhaps best known for his role on "The A-Team" on NBC as John (Hannibal) Smith, a former Army colonel leading a team of renegade Vietnam veterans who became soldiers of fortune.