Oscar-winner Charlton Heston died Saturday, April 5, 2008. According to the latest news from the L.A. Times, the world-renowned actor died at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 84 years old. From his early career to his later days, Heston has served as a lingering symbol of popular culture for many generations of movie-goers and film fans.
Charlton Heston is known for award-winning leading roles in epic films, including Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments. He has played a wide-range of characters, from Andrew Jackson to Moses, to an astronaut stranded on the “Planet of the Apes. According to his Internet Movie Database page, Heston won his first Oscar in 1960 for his portrayal of Ben-Hur in the film of the same title. He has been nominated for three Emmy’s and five Golden Globes. Heston won two Globes; the first, the 1962 Henrietta Award for the World Film Favorite- Actor, and a second, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, in 1967.
According to Wikipedia, Charlton Heston’s breakthrough role came in 1952, when he portrayed Brad Braden, a circus manager, in Cecil B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth. He followed this performance with performances in 1953’s The President’s Lady as President Andrew Jackson, 1956’s The Ten Commandments as Moses, and 1968’s The Planet of the Apes as George Taylor. In a 2001 remake of the latter film, Heston had a cameo role as the father of a man-hating chimpanzee General named Thade; Heston’s character is credited with introducing weaponry to his people. In the film, he reprised his famous line, “Damn them! Damn them all to hell!” He also reprised his role as Ben-Hur in a 2003 animated television special adaptation of the film.
Heston was also a writer and director. He wrote and directed a 1972 version of “Antony and Cleopatra”, in which he also starred as Marc Antony. He also directed a 1988 television adaptation of “A Man for All Seasons” in which he starred as Sir Thomas More.
Heston also served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1966 to 1971.
Charlton Heston has been known for his staunch support of many conservative causes. He opposed Vietnam and openly supported a 1968 Gun Control Act from President Lyndon Johnson. He has campaigned for presidential candidates from Ronald Reagan to both George H. and George W. Bush. Heston was an honorary lifetime member of the National Rifle Association (NRA); he served as the president of the organization from 1993 to his resignation in 2003.
Heston was diagnosed with symptoms consistent with Alzheimer’s disease in 2002. In August of 2002, he made what the L.A. Times calls a “poignant and moving” videotaped statement announcing his disease.
Heston has battled health issues for more than ten years. In 1998 he received a hip replacement; that same year he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which later went into remission. After his 2002 Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Heston continued to decline in terms of health. In both 2005 and 2006 newspapers reported the rapid decline of Heston’s health, stating the surprisingly rapid progression of the illness that sometimes left him unable to get out of bed.
Heston leaves behind his wife of sixty-four years, Lydia Clarke Heston, and two children, Fraser Clarke Heston-who played the infant Moses in his father’s 1956 film-and Holly Heston Rochell.
Sources:
Robert W. Welkos and Susan King, “Charlton Heston, 84; actor played epic figures”, Los Angeles Times
Wikipedia, “Charlton Heston”, Wikipedia.com
IMDB, “Charlton Heston”, IMDB.com
IMDB, “Lydia Clarke”, IMDB.com
IMDB, “Fraser Clarke Heston”, IMDB.com
