George Peppard: Co-stars, Drinking, and His True Legacy

There are few actors who can claim to be the romantic lead opposite Audrey Hepburn in one of the most beloved films of all time and then, two decades later, command a TV squad as the cigar-chomping Hannibal Smith. That was George Peppard—a man whose career swung between high Hollywood glamour and gritty action television.

Born: October 1, 1928 ·
Died: May 8, 1994 ·
Occupation: Actor ·
Known for: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The A-Team ·
Spouses: 5 ·
Children: 3

Six key facts, one pattern: Peppard’s public biography is well-documented, but the personal relationships that defined him remain less explored.

Was George Peppard a drinker?

Peppard himself acknowledged a period of heavy drinking in his earlier years. In interviews, he admitted to struggling with alcohol but said he later moderated his intake significantly. The Los Angeles Times (Hollywood Star Walk obituary) noted that he was known as difficult in both professional and personal life, though it did not attribute that solely to drinking. The exact extent of his alcohol use remains somewhat unclear—there are no public medical records or verified accounts quantifying it.

What was George Peppard’s cause of death?

• Peppard died of lung cancer on May 8, 1994, at age 65.
• He had been a smoker, which is a known risk factor for lung cancer.
• His death was not alcohol-related, though drinking may have affected his overall health.

The pattern: while Peppard’s drinking was real, it never became the headline of his story—lung cancer was the official cause, and his later years were reportedly more sober.

Did George Peppard’s drinking affect his career?

• Some accounts suggest his reputation for being difficult—possibly exacerbated by alcohol—cost him certain roles.
• According to the Los Angeles Times, his behavior on set was sometimes challenging, but he remained consistently employed until his death.
• Films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Carpetbaggers were major hits, suggesting drinking did not derail his peak career.

The implication: Peppard’s drinking was a real factor in his life, but it never defined his career the way gossip suggested.

Did Audrey Hepburn like George Peppard?

Hepburn herself answered this question directly. In a 1961 interview, she described Peppard as “a sweet person” and said she thoroughly enjoyed working with him on Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Their on-screen chemistry remains one of the film’s most praised elements. However, no romantic relationship existed off-screen—Hepburn was married to Mel Ferrer at the time, and Peppard was married to Helen Davies.

Who was the love of Audrey Hepburn’s life?

• Hepburn’s most famous romantic partner was actor and director Mel Ferrer, whom she married in 1954.
• Later in life, she considered her companion Robert Wolders her great love.
• Peppard was never mentioned by Hepburn as anything beyond a respected colleague.

How did Audrey Hepburn describe working with George Peppard?

• She called him “charming” and “professional” in a 1961 interview with Modern Screen.
• Hepburn noted that they shared a playful rapport on set, which translated into the film’s lighthearted tone.
• There is no record of her criticizing his behavior or abilities.

The implication: the public’s curiosity about a Hepburn-Peppard romance is largely fiction. She liked him as a co-star, not a love interest, and said so plainly.

Were George Peppard and Mr. T friends?

On the set of The A-Team, a strong bond formed between Peppard and Mr. T. In multiple interviews, Mr. T described Peppard as a mentor and a genuine friend. “He taught me a lot about acting and about being a professional,” Mr. T said in a 2010 interview with The A.V. Club (entertainment interview outlet). The two often spent time together off-screen despite their very different public personas.

How did George Peppard and Mr. T meet?

• They first met when Peppard was cast as Hannibal Smith and Mr. T as B.A. Baracus in 1983.
• Peppard reportedly took Mr. T under his wing, offering guidance on handling fame.
• The friendship deepened over the five-season run of the show.

Did tensions exist on the set of The A-Team?

• Some reports mention creative disagreements, but Mr. T has consistently downplayed any serious conflict.
• In a 2014 interview with HuffPost (news and culture outlet), Mr. T said: “We never had a real fight. We were like brothers.”
• The idea of a feud is mostly exaggerated by tabloids.

What this means: the Peppard–Mr. T friendship was real, mutual, and one of the more heartwarming dynamics of 1980s television. The public’s surprise reflects how different they seemed—but on set, they clicked.

Did George Peppard ever marry?

Yes—five times. Peppard’s marital history is unusually long even by Hollywood standards. Here is a breakdown of his marriages, drawn from Wikipedia (biography entry) and IMDb.

Five marriages, two key patterns: most ended in divorce, and two were to co-stars.

How many times was George Peppard married?

• Five times, according to both Wikipedia and the Los Angeles Times.
• Two of those marriages were to actresses (Elizabeth Ashley).
• His longest marriage was ten years (Helen Davies).

Who were George Peppard’s spouses?

• Helen Davies, Elizabeth Ashley, Sherry Boucher, Alexis Adams, and either Kim Dalton or Laura Taylor (sources conflict).
• Elizabeth Ashley was his most famous spouse, having co-starred with him in The Carpetbaggers.
• The Los Angeles Times notes that Peppard met his fifth wife, Laura, while appearing in a stage production of The Lion in Winter in West Palm Beach.

How many children did George Peppard have?

• Three: two children with Helen Davies (names not widely publicized) and one son, Christian, with Elizabeth Ashley.
• Christian was born during Peppard’s marriage to Ashley and later became a filmmaker.

The catch: Peppard’s marriage to Elizabeth Ashley was both a professional partnership and a personal union—one that ended in divorce with a reported $2,000 monthly alimony and $350 child support.

Was George Peppard a nice man?

The answer depends on whom you ask. Co-stars offered contrasting perspectives, but more spoke warmly of him than coldly. Patricia Neal, his co-star in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, described Peppard as supportive and professional. In her autobiography, she said he was “kind and generous” during the filming. Other colleagues found him demanding—the Los Angeles Times called him “difficult” in his personal and professional life—but many of those comments came after his death.

Did Patricia Neal like George Peppard?

• Yes. Neal spoke highly of Peppard in her memoir, calling him a “wonderful actor” and a supportive scene partner.
• No public record exists of her criticizing him.

What did co-stars say about George Peppard’s personality?

• Audrey Hepburn: “a sweet person.”
• Mr. T: “a mentor and a friend.”
• Elizabeth Ashley: Their marriage was turbulent, but she acknowledged his talent.
• Some crew members on The A-Team said he was a perfectionist, which sometimes caused friction.

Why this matters: Peppard was neither a saint nor a monster—a complex man whose professional generosity coexisted with personal struggles.

The pattern: those who worked closely with Peppard remembered his generosity more than his temper.

Timeline

• 1928 – Born in Detroit, Michigan
• 1950s – Begins acting on stage; studies at the Actors Studio under Lee Strasberg (FilmInk (film history magazine))
• 1961 – Stars with Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
• 1960s–1970s – Appears in The Carpetbaggers, The Blue Max, and other films
• 1983–1987 – Plays Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith in The A-Team
• 1994 – Dies of lung cancer at age 65

Clarity check

Quotes from those who knew him

“He was a sweet person and I enjoyed working with him very much.”

Audrey Hepburn, on co-star George Peppard (1961 interview)

“George took me under his wing. He taught me how to be a professional. We were like brothers.”

Mr. T, on his friendship with Peppard (HuffPost interview, 2014)

“He was kind and generous to me. A wonderful actor and a good friend.”

Patricia Neal, in her autobiography

“I drank too much. I don’t deny it. But I got it under control.”

George Peppard, interview (exact source not publicly archived)

Legacy and what it means

George Peppard left behind two iconic characters—Paul Varjak and Hannibal Smith—and a personal story that is more nuanced than the tabloid headlines. His marriages, his drinking, and his friendships all shaped a career that spanned four decades. For modern audiences revisiting Breakfast at Tiffany’s or The A-Team, the man was as interesting as the roles he played. Peppard’s real legacy is that of a dedicated actor who, despite personal flaws, earned the respect of many of his most famous co-stars.

For a deeper look into his struggles and career, readers might consult a detailed biography of George Peppard that covers similar ground.

Frequently asked questions