Cold Dead Hands: Charlton Heston died

rodrick_98 · Apr 5, 2008

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080406/ap_on_en_mo/obit_heston

Charlton Heston dead at 84

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.

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.

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 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.
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omega man, and soylent green are a couple of my favorite movies. sad to see him go.

DaDakota · Apr 5, 2008

A great man, may he RIP.

DD

Faos · Apr 6, 2008

The least you could do is give the guy a proper thread title.

"DAMN DIRTY APE!!"

rodrick_98 · Apr 6, 2008

Faos said:

The least you could do is give the guy a proper thread title.

"DAMN DIRTY APE!!"
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i debated with that one, and these:

George Taylor: Oh my God. I'm back. I'm home. All the time, it was... We finally really did it.
[screaming]
George Taylor: You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!
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Det. Thorn: Listen to me, Hatcher. You've gotta tell them! Soylent Green is people!
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Yaozer · Apr 6, 2008

The move Ben Hur was quite bada$$.

My dad is a huge fan of his so I used to watch all his old movies.

Faos · Apr 6, 2008

rodrick_98 said:

i debated with that one,
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I actually meant putting Heston's name in the thread title.

peleincubus · Apr 6, 2008

sad to see the older movie stars go.

will be weird when im old and tom hanks dies or somebody like that.

damn TIME

R0ckets03 · Apr 6, 2008

Charlton Heston died.

http://news.aol.com/entertainment/m...arlton-heston-dies-at-84/20080406011709990001

AP
Posted: 2008-04-06 02:48:14
Filed Under: Star Obituaries, Movie News
LOS ANGELES (April 6) - 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.

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Charlton Heston, April 5: An Oscar-winning actor for 'Ben-Hur,' Heston also played heroic roles in films as diverse as 'The Ten Commandments,' 'Touch of Evil' and 'Planet of the Apes.' He was 84. His family would not reveal the cause of death.
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.

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."

R0ckets03 · Apr 6, 2008

Loved him in Benhur and even more in 10 Commandments.

Shroopy2 · Apr 6, 2008

I'm hoping to live to 84. I'm sure he's lived quite a full life and passed happily

Still, sad to see icons go

RudyTBag · Apr 6, 2008

That really, really sucks......

ClutchCityReturns · Apr 6, 2008

R.I.P.

Mr. Brightside · Apr 6, 2008

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=146249

11:51PM. This thread died. RIP.

Yaozer · Apr 6, 2008

peleincubus said:

sad to see the older movie stars go.

will be weird when im old and tom hanks dies or somebody like that.

damn TIME
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I was actually thinking about this a while ago. Not really a movie star, but what would happen when Michael Jackson dies.. will people still even care enough to know that he's gone? Everything on TV had made him to be some kinda freak.

Ottomaton · Apr 6, 2008

I guess 'they' can take his gun now?

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/O0B_UZNtEk4&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/O0B_UZNtEk4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

Lil Pun · Apr 6, 2008

Just read it on Yahoo! Film legend indeed. R.I.P.

Lil Pun · Apr 6, 2008

Just read it on Yahoo! Film legend indeed. R.I.P.

Chuck 4 · Apr 6, 2008

Terrible news...

A true film legend...

Carl Herrera · Apr 6, 2008

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.
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Ottomaton · Apr 6, 2008

Carl Herrera said:

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prominent cheekbones

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