Gregory Peck was a heavy drinker as a young actor in Hollywood. In 1949 he was hospitalized with heart spasms, and while filming David and Bathsheba he was hospitalized with a suspected heart attack. Though it turned out to be a palpitation brought on by his lifestyle and overwork, he began to drink less thereafter. However, he did not stop smoking for many more years.
Gregory Peck was chosen by producer Darryl F. Zanuck for this epic film because Zanuck thought Peck had a "biblical face".
The full scale replica of the Ark of the Covenant used in the film was constructed of oiled acacia wood. This prop would be purchased many years later at a 20th Century Fox studio auction by Susan Hayward.
The infamous "Daisy" campaign ad aired for the first and only time during the September 7, 1964 telecast of this film on NBC.