Peppard’s first TV credit was not for acting but for singing the lead title song in the hit movie, Bang the Drum Slowly (1956). This movie had a remake in 1973 staring Robert De Nero about pro baseball pitcher and catcher (who had been diagnosed terminally ill).
Some major movie roles started for Peppard in the 50’s as he appeared in several war movies, Pork Chop Hill (1959) with Gregory Peck, as they try to retake a barren hill in Korea. The next movie that he had a lead roll in was Home from the Hill (1960) where he plays the part an employee of wealthy Texan ( Robert Mitchum ) who’s son, George Hamilton, struggles with the dark secrets of his father’s past and his demands to become a man.
A sure movie classic of all times was Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) staring the beautiful young actress, Audrey Hepburn, who portrays a high-priced escort and searching for a rich, older man. George plays a struggling writer who has just moved into her apartment building. The movie was based on the famous Truman Capote's novel.
How the West Was Won (1962) an historical drama about the Western expansion of the United States told through a pioneer family. This movie placed him with the all-stars of the time, Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda and Debbie Reynolds. In this film he was purposely aged 30 years to play the part of Zebulon 'Zeb' Rawlings.
The next major movie was The Carpetbagger’s (1964), Harold Robbins's soap opera bestseller, set in the 1930s of sex, power and greed. Peppard played the staring role of Jonas Cord, a ruthless man willing to do anything to rule lives and control money. The role was loosely patterned after the real life of Howard Hughs. In this film he co-stared with his second wife Elizabeth Ashley (they had one son, Christian, who is a writer). His first wife was Helen Davies (with whom he has two children).
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