Film legend Charlton Heston dead at 84

Film legend Charlton Heston dead at 84
By BOB THOMAS, Associated Press Writer 9 minutes ago


LOS ANGELES - Charlton Heston, who won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing "Ben-Hur" and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the '50s and '60s, has died. He was 84.


The actor died Saturday night at his home in Beverly Hills with his wife Lydia at his side, family spokesman Bill Powers said.
Powers declined to comment on the cause of death or provide further details.
"Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life. He was known for his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and resonating voice, and, of course, for the roles he played," Heston's family said in a statement. "No one could ask for a fuller life than his. No man could have given more to his family, to his profession, and to his country."
Heston revealed in 2002 that he had symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease, saying, "I must reconcile courage and surrender in equal measure."
With his large, muscular build, well-boned face and sonorous voice, Heston proved the ideal star during the period when Hollywood was filling movie screens with panoramas depicting the religious and historical past. "I have a face that belongs in another century," he often remarked.
Publicist Michael Levine, who represented Heston for about 20 years, said the actor's passing represented the end of an iconic era for cinema.
"If Hollywood had a Mt. Rushmore, Heston's face would be on it," Levine said. "He was a heroic figure that I don't think exists to the same degree in Hollywood today."
The actor assumed the role of leader offscreen as well. He served as president of the Screen Actors Guild and chairman of the American Film Institute and marched in the civil rights movement of the 1950s. With age, he grew more conservative and campaigned for conservative candidates.
In June 1998, Heston was elected president of the National Rifle Association, for which he had posed for ads holding a rifle. He delivered a jab at then-President Clinton, saying, "America doesn't trust you with our 21-year-old daughters, and we sure, Lord, don't trust you with our guns."
Heston stepped down as NRA president in April 2003, telling members his five years in office were "quite a ride. ... I loved every minute of it."
Later that year, Heston was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. "The largeness of character that comes across the screen has also been seen throughout his life," President Bush said at the time.
He engaged in a lengthy feud with liberal Ed Asner during the latter's tenure as president of the Screen Actors Guild. His latter-day activism almost overshadowed his achievements as an actor, which were considerable.
Heston lent his strong presence to some of the most acclaimed and successful films of the midcentury. "Ben-Hur" won 11 Academy Awards, tying it for the record with the more recent "Titanic" (1997) and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003). Heston's other hits include: "The Ten Commandments," "El Cid," "55 Days at Peking," "Planet of the Apes" and "Earthquake."
He liked to the cite the number of historical figures he had portrayed:
Andrew Jackson ("The President's Lady," "The Buccaneer"), Moses ("The Ten Commandments"), title role of "El Cid," John the Baptist ("The Greatest Story Ever Told"), Michelangelo ("The Agony and the Ecstasy"), General Gordon ("Khartoum"), Marc Antony ("Julius Caesar," "Antony and Cleopatra"), Cardinal Richelieu ("The Three Musketeers"), Henry VIII ("The Prince and the Pauper").
Heston made his movie debut in the 1940s in two independent films by a college classmate, David Bradley, who later became a noted film archivist. He had the title role in "Peer Gynt" in 1942 and was Marc Antony in Bradley's 1949 version of "Julius Caesar," for which Heston was paid $50 a week.

Film producer Hal B. Wallis ("Casablanca") spotted Heston in a 1950 television production of "Wuthering Heights" and offered him a contract. When his wife reminded him that they had decided to pursue theater and television, he replied, "Well, maybe just for one film to see what it's like."
Heston earned star billing from his first Hollywood movie, "Dark City," a 1950 film noir. Cecil B. DeMille next cast him as the circus manager in the all-star "The Greatest Show On Earth," named by the Motion Picture Academy as the best picture of 1952. More movies followed:
"The Savage," "Ruby Gentry," "The President's Lady," "Pony Express" (as Buffalo Bill Cody), "Arrowhead," "Bad for Each Other," "The Naked Jungle," "Secret of the Incas," "The Far Horizons" (as Clark of the Lewis and Clark trek), "The Private War of Major Benson," "Lucy Gallant."
Most were forgettable low-budget films, and Heston seemed destined to remain an undistinguished action star. His old boss DeMille rescued him.
The director had long planned a new version of "The Ten Commandments," which he had made as a silent in 1923 with a radically different approach that combined biblical and modern stories. He was struck by Heston's facial resemblance to Michelangelo's sculpture of Moses, especially the similar broken nose, and put the actor through a long series of tests before giving him the role.
The Hestons' newborn, Fraser Clarke Heston, played the role of the infant Moses in the film.
More films followed: the eccentric thriller "Touch of Evil," directed by Orson Welles; William Wyler's "The Big Country," costarring with Gregory Peck; a sea saga, "The Wreck of the Mary Deare" with Gary Cooper.
Then his greatest role: "Ben-Hur."
Heston wasn't the first to be considered for the remake of 1925 biblical epic. Marlon Brando, Burt Lancaster and Rock Hudson had declined the film. Heston plunged into the role, rehearsing two months for the furious chariot race.
He railed at suggestions the race had been shot with a double: "I couldn't drive it well, but that wasn't necessary. All I had to do was stay on board so they could shoot me there. I didn't have to worry; MGM guaranteed I would win the race."
The huge success of "Ben-Hur" and Heston's Oscar made him one of the highest-paid stars in Hollywood. He combined big-screen epics like "El Cid" and "55 Days at Peking" with lesser ones such as "Diamond Head," "Will Penny" and "Airport 1975." In his later years he played cameos in such films as "Wayne's World 2" and "Tombstone."
He often returned to the theater, appearing in such plays as "A Long Day's Journey into Night" and "A Man for All Seasons." He starred as a tycoon in the prime-time soap opera, "The Colbys," a two-season spinoff of "Dynasty."
At his birth in a Chicago suburb on Oct. 4, 1923, his name was Charles Carter. His parents moved to St. Helen, Mich., where his father, Russell Carter, operated a lumber mill. Growing up in the Michigan woods with almost no playmates, young Charles read books of adventure and devised his own games while wandering the countryside with his rifle.
Charles's parents divorced, and she married Chester Heston, a factory plant superintendent in Wilmette, Ill., an upscale north Chicago suburb. Shy and feeling displaced in the big city, the boy had trouble adjusting to the new high school. He took refuge in the drama department.
"What acting offered me was the chance to be many other people," he said in a 1986 interview. "In those days I wasn't satisfied with being me."
Calling himself Charlton Heston from his mother's maiden name and his stepfather's last name, he won an acting scholarship to Northwestern University in 1941. He excelled in campus plays and appeared on Chicago radio. In 1943, he enlisted in the Army Air Force and served as a radio-gunner in the Aleutians.
In 1944 he married another Northwestern drama student, Lydia Clarke, and after his army discharge in 1947, they moved to New York to seek acting jobs. Finding none, they hired on as codirectors and principal actors at a summer theater in Asheville, N.C.
Back in New York, both Hestons began finding work. With his strong 6-feet-2 build and craggily handsome face, Heston won roles in TV soap operas, plays ("Antony and Cleopatra" with Katherine Cornell) and live TV dramas such as "Julius Caesar," "Macbeth," "The Taming of the Shrew" and "Of Human Bondage."
Heston wrote several books: "The Actor's Life: Journals 1956-1976," published in 1978; "Beijing Diary: 1990," concerning his direction of the play "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial" in Chinese; "In the Arena: An Autobiography," 1995; and "Charlton Heston's Hollywood: 50 Years of American Filmmaking," 1998.
Besides Fraser, who directed his father in an adventure film, "Mother Lode," the Hestons had a daughter, Holly Ann, born Aug. 2, 1961. The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1994 at a party with Hollywood and political friends. They had been married 64 years when he died.
In late years, Heston drew as much publicity for his crusades as for his performances. In addition to his NRA work, he campaigned for Republican presidential and congressional candidates and against affirmative action.
He resigned from Actors Equity, claiming the union's refusal to allow a white actor to play a Eurasian role in "Miss Saigon" was "obscenely racist." He attacked CNN's telecasts from Baghdad as "sowing doubts" about the allied effort in the 1990-91 Gulf War.
At a Time Warner stockholders meeting, he castigated the company for releasing an Ice-T album that purportedly encouraged cop killing.
Heston wrote in "In the Arena" that he was proud of what he did "though now I'll surely never be offered another film by Warners, nor get a good review in Time. On the other hand, I doubt I'll get a traffic ticket very soon." __

Film legend Charlton Heston dead at 84 - Yahoo! News

 

Charlton will always be Ben Hur for me. R.I.P. Sir, one of the last Hollywood legends, if not the last

 

Yes, read about in the net this morning...

Another great star gone. R.I.P. Charlton!

 

'Ben Hur' was on TV here just the other week - and I enjoyed it again....I liked him in 'Will Penny', too, and many others.

RIP - his performances will live on.....

 

I remember him as Gordon Pasha? in Khartoum. I remember the movie as if it's always playing.
A Man who never swayed, even in this world of leaning/fluttering saw grass.

R.I.P.

 

He was a cool guy, I'm going to miss him ....anyway, lets speculate on his spectacular film career . One of my favorites would have to be his role as Gordon in Khartoum, as seen in my avatar.

 

Ya might like to check out his Obit that I posted on him . He was a WWII vet also. Flew as a gunner in Alaska.

http://www.ww2f.com/roll-honor-memo...end-charlton-heston-dead-84-a.html#post280047

 

Another giant of the Hollywood old guard passes away, Charleton Heston came from the generation of actors who knew how to act which is badly lacking these days.

Farewell Charleton Heston
And thank you for some real good films you made.

 

This movie is one of my favorites in my DVD collection .

 

I didn't know he was a WWII though. Was a aerial gunner in the 10,000 Mile War.

 

@JC

I also have it as well, bought The Omega Man as a double bill with Soylent Green.

Great films.

 

He was great in "The Ten Commandments", RIP.

 

Really??? Awwwww Man!!!! My other favorite of his! Ill have to keep a lookout for that double feature.

 

Army Air Corp for 3 years-Stationed in the Aleutian Islands (1944)-Held the rank of Sergent

 

Heard about it yesterday. A powerhouse in the movie industry, Charleton Heston was indeed a rare jewel in the now tarnished movie-city of Hollywood. A sad day indeed. Favorite movie is Ben Hur with Ten Commandments and Planet of the Apes tying for second

 

Ah, yes, the Planet Of The Apes....gotta love the ending.

 

Charlton Heston was one guy who did what he thought necessary. He stood up for the things he believed in, entertained us through his movies and lived a life worth emulating. Most of all, he is a guy who isn't afraid to laugh at himself. He knew how to have fun. Remember the cameo scene in a movie where the lead actor asked that the extra be replaced with a good actor? Charlton Heston stepped into the scene and did the job for laughs! Even in a cameo, he had a commanding presence. In real life, whether you disagree with him or not, when he speaks, we listen.

 

Hey Guys, thanks for this fine thread about a great actor. Rest in Peace Mr. Heston, you were a household name in our house and equal to that of John Wayne. For many years, I remember getting to watch and rewatch The Ten Commandments. This was somehting always aired near Christmastime as well as Easter-and sometimes aired; just for the heck of it.

The Ten Commandments is one of my all-time most favorite films with Charlton Heston being in it. Heston opposite Yul Brynner (another household favorite) and Edward G. Robinson, all helped make this a great film.

Some movie favorites not listed by others above include:

1) The Savage - where Heston played a person whose family was killed in a massacre and he was an only survivor and being a Boy, he was raised by the Indians as their own. As an adult, his loyalty to his Indian family and to his real "family" was tested when his Indian family and their tribe decided to "wipe-out" a unit of Pony Soldiers who were also escourting a Wagon Train full of Settlers. He even awent as far as helping set a trap for them but then he made sure the Cavalry knew an ambush had been set-therefore he betrayed his adopted famil and tribe.

2) Arrowhead - opposite Walter (Jack) Palance and Brian Keith. Heston's character was factually based on the exploits of the man (Al Sieber) who was Chief of Army Scouts. A most excellent Western.

3) Counterpoint - which also included Maximilian Schell. This very rarely shown movie had Heston as the learder of an Orchestra that was captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge. This movie is a rare Gem.

4) The Naked Jungle. In this movie, Heston was a landowner somewhere in South America. At somepoint in the movie, an army of Army Ants, is spotted heading in their direction eating and killing everything in their path. This movie was a staple in our household.

5) 55 Days At Peking. Heston's character was as a Colonel leading the Military Mission in Peking. This movie is based on the Boxer Rebellion.

6) The Mountain Men w/ Brian Keith. Both of these men portrayed Fur Trappers during the early to mid 1800's. Excellent movie and one shot on location.

7) Midway. Heston was on the Admirals Staff and also was a Carrier Pilot. Another very well made movie.

8) The Warlord in which he portrayed a Knight. Another excellent movie that rarely gets air time.

9) Major Dundee w/ Richard Harris, L.Q.Jones, Ben Johnson, Slim Pickens, and Jim Hutton. Set during the US "Civil War" Major Dundee leads an expedition into Mexico that concists of a few men from his command, COnfederate POWs, Cowboys and Ruffians-in search of some children snatched by an Apache Indian and his band.

10) The Buccanneer w/ Yul Brynner. This time, Heston is General Andy "By God" Jackson and is a man who is about to defend New Orleans against the British. He tries to enlist the help of noted French Pirate: Jean Le Fitte, to help out with the defense of the city.

11) The Private War of Major Benson. Heston is placed as Commandant of a Youth Military Academt. This movie is hilarious and well worth the watching.

Other favorites include: Gray Lady Down, Two Minute Warninig, The Awakening, Planet of the Apes, Beneath the Planet of the Apes & The Big Country.

One thing I have to say is that with Hestons passing, most of the "Class" that hollywood had; left with him. :-((

As a Sergeant/veteran, I him.