Bob Peck

Bob Peck (Born August 23, 1945-Died April 4, 1999) was an English Actor,well known for his many stage,television, and Film roles. He was regarded as a very adaptable actor, able to play any role he was given. His most well known role is that of his portrayal of Robert Muldoon in the film Jurassic Park.

Biography:

Bob Peck was born in Leeds, England on August 23, 1945. He attended Leeds Modern school, and graduated from Leeds college of art. Peck then went on to work for the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the National Theater.

Before becoming a television/movie actor, Peck was an actor with the Royal Shakesphere Company along side the likes of Ian McKellan and Judi Dench. He played the character of Macduff in the Trevor Nunn’s acclaimed 1976 stage and television versions of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and re-appeared in another production of Macbeth in 1982. According to Peck’s fellow Royal Shakespeare Theatre performer and veteran actor Sir Ian McKellen, Peck is the actor he considers he “learned the most from”.

Peck’s television career began in the 1970s, with his first television roles being in the BBC’s Thirty-Minute Theatre anthology series in 1972, in which he appeared in the episode “Bypass”.

In 1985 television writer Troy Kennedy Martin – who had previously written the screenplay for the film The Italian Job and created the popular police proceduraltelevision series Z-Cars (in which Peck had appeared during the 1970s) – cast Peck in the starring role of policeman Ronald Craven in his television miniseries Edge of Darkness. This crime drama/political thriller follows Peck’s character as he attempts to unravel the truth behind the brutal murder of his daughter, portrayed in the series by Joanne Whalley. Another of Peck’s co-stars in the series was US actor Joe Don Baker, along with fellow UK actors Charles Kay and Ian McNeice.

The series was broadcast on BBC Two in six episodes from 4 November to 9 December 1985, in six parts entitled “Compassionate Leave”, “Into the Shadows”, “Burden of Proof”, “Breakthrough”, “Northmoor” and “Fusion”. During its run the show attracted four million viewers and spiralled Peck to fame, winning him a British Academy Television Award for Best Actor at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards. After the series ended, Peck had become a figure of popularity and a national favourite.

After gaining popularity for his starring role in Edge of Darkness, Peck had become a national favourite and began appearing in films.  Peck made his first appearance as a main character in a film again playing a policeman, John Graham, based in Kenya 1950, who takes under his wing the son of a murdered black priest in the 1987 film The Kitchen Toto. He also appeared in the 1987 film On the Black Hill, adapted from the 1982 novel of the same name by Bruce Chatwin. However, the film role that really launched his career as a film actor was his portrayal of the android Byron in the 1989 post-apocalyptic science-fiction adventure film Slipstream, in which he appeared alongside other big names including Mark Hamill, Bill Paxton, F. Murray Abraham, Ben Kingsley and Robbie Coltrane.

Peck’s image and popularity increased with appearances in films including the 1990 film Lord of the Flies as the Marine Officer. He also appeared in the television movies The Black Velvet Gown and An Ungentlemanly Act. In 1993, Peck made his biggest film appearance, when he was cast as park gamekeeper Robert Muldoon in the blockbuster smash hit Jurassic Park, directed by Steven Spielberg from the 1990 novel of the same name by Michael Crichton.

In November 1994, Peck was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer. Peck was said to be undergoing chemotherapy and radio therapy and his agent claimed that he was making a recovery. Nevertheless, Peck died at his home in London, England on 4 April 1999, at the age of 53. Peck’s funeral took place in London, and his close friend and Edge of Darkness co-star Ian McNeice read a eulogy at the service. He was cremated in London and his ashes were given to his family. He is survived by his widow and three children.