George Peppard

George William Peppard Jr. (October 1, 1928 – May 8, 1994) was an American actor known for his roles in both film and television. He gained recognition for his portrayal of struggling writer Paul Varjak in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), alongside Audrey Hepburn. Peppard also portrayed a character based on Howard Hughes in The Carpetbaggers (1964). On television, he played the title role of millionaire insurance investigator Thomas Banacek in the 1970s mystery series Banacek. However, he is perhaps best remembered for his role as Col. John 'Hannibal' Smith, the leader of a renegade commando squad in the popular 1980s action series The A-Team. Born in Detroit, Peppard faced financial hardships during the Great Depression but went on to graduate from Dearborn High School.