Charlton Heston Dies at 84
April 7, 2008

Academy Award winning actor, Charlton Heston, best known to movie lovers for his unforgettable roles in such films as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Planet of the Apes, Airport 75, Earthquake and many more, died in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 5 at the age of what is believed to be 84. In a statement issued by a Heston family spokesperson, it was revealed by The Associated Press that Charlton Heston passed away at his Beverly Hills home. Since 2002, the larger-than-life Heston had been battling symptoms related to Alzheimer’s disease.

Charlton Heston began his acting career in 1941 and went on to amass over 120 film and television credits, winning an Oscar in 1960 for his leading role in William Wyler’s Ben-Hur. Off screen, Heston was active and vocal in the world of politics and political activism, accompanying Martin Luther King on the 1963 civil rights march on Washington before opposing the Vietnam War only a few years later. Between 1956 and 2001, Heston also campaigned for several Presidential candidates including John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. Charlton Heston became the subject of controversy when he became the President of the National Rifle Association in 1998 and often came under fire from the gun control community for his staunch convictions over the right to bear arms. In 2003, Heston resigned from his position with the NRA and led a quieter life over the past five years.

The passing of Charlton Heston evokes warm cinematic memories of years gone by. Not only was Heston one of the true acting greats from the Golden Age of Hollywood, he was also a man with deep personal and political convictions. His presence in both the acting circles and the worlds of social and political activism will be missed for years to come.