TLDR: George Peppard was supposed to be Blake Carrington. Three weeks into filming Dynasty‘s pilot, he wasn’t anymore, fired after arguing with producers about a comparison he probably shouldn’t have made out loud.
George William Peppard Jr. was born October 1, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan, and studied civil engineering at Purdue before switching paths entirely, earning a degree from the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1955 and building a stage and television career first.
His film debut came in 1957’s The Strange One, and by 1961 he’d landed the role that would define his early stardom, playing Paul Varjak opposite Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
He Compared His Own Character to Dallas, and That Was the End
Peppard was cast as Dynasty’s patriarch, Blake Carrington, and began shooting the pilot. According to IMDb, he clashed with producers over the character’s direction, arguing that Blake was becoming too similar to J.R. Ewing, the already-established antihero of rival soap Dallas.
The comment didn’t land well.
Peppard was fired after three weeks of shooting, and every scene he’d already filmed was reshot with his replacement, John Forsythe.
TV Guide reported the split more diplomatically at the time, citing simple “creative differences.”
Either way, the role that might have defined Peppard’s 1980s went to someone else before audiences ever saw a frame of him in it.
He Had a History of Walking Away From Things on Principle
The Dynasty firing wasn’t an isolated incident. Peppard had already been removed from a run of appearances on the game show Password Plus after openly clashing with NBC executives, and he’d left the detective series Banacek after two seasons when the producer, a personal friend, exited the show.
Peppard also reportedly declined a lucrative opportunity tied to Breakfast at Tiffany’s specifically to keep his then-wife, actress Elizabeth Ashley, from claiming a share of the money during their difficult divorce.
He Found His Real Second Act Playing an Entirely Different Kind of Leader
Losing Dynasty turned out not to be the end of Peppard’s television career. In 1983 he was cast as Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith on The A-Team, a role far better suited to his gruff, cigar-chewing screen presence than a Carrington-style oil tycoon ever would have been.
The show made him a star all over again, and that same year he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and served as grand marshal of the Hollywood Christmas Parade.
His Personal Life Was Just as Turbulent as His Career Moves
Peppard married five times: Helen Davies, Elizabeth Ashley, Sherry Boucher, Alexis Adams, and finally Laura Taylor, whom he was married to at the time of his death.
He had three children, Bradford, Julie, and Christian. He also spoke openly about overcoming alcoholism in 1978, and became a public advocate for addiction recovery and health care reform in his later years, alongside his political work as a self-described passionate Democrat.
Peppard died on May 8, 1994, at age 65, following a battle with lung cancer.
You can read more about the man who actually got to play Blake Carrington in our full guide to Dynasty.
George Peppard, Frequently Asked Questions
Why was George Peppard fired from Dynasty?
He clashed with producers over the direction of Blake Carrington’s character during the pilot, reportedly arguing the role was becoming too similar to J.R. Ewing on Dallas. He was fired after three weeks of filming and replaced by John Forsythe.
What role was George Peppard best known for?
He’s best remembered for playing Paul Varjak opposite Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and later as Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith on The A-Team.
How many times was George Peppard married?
Five times, to Helen Davies, Elizabeth Ashley, Sherry Boucher, Alexis Adams, and Laura Taylor, with three children.
How did George Peppard die?
He died on May 8, 1994, at age 65, following a battle with lung cancer.
