Originally posted by Richard:
Ray did know Gregory Peck.
I recall Ray saying that late in their lives, Ray bumped in Peck and they discussed his portrayal of Ahab in MOBY DICK. Peck told Ray that he was probably too young for the part at the time and, as a result, failed to instill in the role the requisite malice it required. Peck then told Ray that if he played the part now: "Malice!"
With respect to whether Ray met with Peck before or during the filming of MOBY DICK, a recent listing on eBay was a letter dated December 10, 1953 from Ray to a friend in the U.S, written from Ireland while Ray was writing the screenplay, states "Gregory Peck is coming over next Sunday for a visit; he'll be Ahab, you know." The letter sold and therefore the following link will probably not work for very long after this posting, but for as long as it lasts, here is a link to that letter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ray-Br...rksid=p2047675.l2557 
