20 Things You Didn't Know About The Omen
16. Gregory Peck Took The Role To Cope With His Son's Suicide
It was a tragedy that ultimately led to Gregory Peck accepting the role. It's still difficult to think of Peck as anything but Atticus Finch, the paternal role he so perfected in To Kill A Mockingbird. Peck in a horror film was unheard of at the time, save maybe for his appearance in the terrifying thriller Cape Fear.
But Peck was having a hard time dealing with the death of his son, Jonathon, who had taken his own life in 1975. Peck felt partly responsible, being absent when his son needed him, and saw in Thorn a role that could help him exorcise some of his own demons.