George Peppard, a critically acclaimed actor, surprisingly considered his portrayal of John "Hannibal" Smith in The A-Team as the pinnacle of his career. When Peppard secured the role, he was facing one of the most challenging periods of his life.
In the preceding year, he had succumbed to unhealthy habits, endured a tumultuous divorce, and found himself ousted from Dynasty due to a reputation for being challenging to work with. Three years had passed without any new opportunities, leaving him concerned that his career was in a downward spiral. In his own words, "I felt like I was on skid row."
Peppard's journey back from the brink was fueled by the support of his three adult children, who witnessed their father's struggles and rallied like a makeshift team of superheroes to help him rise again. He expressed deep gratitude for their unwavering support, noting, "They were tremendously supportive when they could so easily have abandoned me. Gradually, they helped me regain self-respect and put my emotional problems in the past."
During this period, Stephen J. Cannell, one of the creators of The A-Team, approached Peppard to discuss the role of Hannibal. Although Cannell believed Peppard was the ideal choice, he faced opposition from NBC executives who had a different top pick in mind. After protracted negotiations, Cannell prevailed, and Peppard was cast as part of The A-Team.
Upon receiving the news, Peppard immediately embarked on a fitness regimen. He commented, "I've had to get pretty fit for the series – we do most of our own fights and stunts. It's a good thing the series came along when it did. A few years ago, I couldn't have handled all this physical work."
Not only did Peppard perform his own stunts, but he also committed to longer working hours than ever before in his career. He regarded this effort as a worthwhile investment in reclaiming his position at the top and forged strong bonds with his fellow A-Team members. He remarked, "There is a good rapport among the men. They are all good-hearted, and Mr. T is a thoroughly professional actor. We put in some long days – up to 14 hours – but it is well worth it."
Initially, Peppard grappled with fear and self-doubt when he joined rehearsals, anxious that he might revert to past habits that had led to his departure from Dynasty. Yet, it was the knowledge that his children were fervently rooting for his success that inspired him to make better choices and strive to regain their pride in their father. He declared, "I thought of my kids and how good they had been, and I realized I just had to do it on my own."
Peppard continued his acting career after The A-Team concluded in 1987 but tragically succumbed to lung cancer in 1994. His final television role was on Matlock in 1994. Reflecting on his role in The A-Team, Peppard acknowledged that he might not have been the first choice for Hannibal, but he was determined to prove that he was indeed the right choice. He cherished the opportunity to reclaim the spotlight, stating, "This is probably the best role of my career."
