Film Icon Charlton Heston Dead at 84
Charlton Heston by Bob Riha Jr./WireImage.com
Charlton Heston, an Oscar winner for his 1958 performance as
Ben-Hur and well-known for his portrayals of such figures as Moses, Michelangelo and El Cid, died Saturday night at age 84, with his wife Lydia at his side. A family spokesman declined to comment on the cause of death, but Heston in 2002 was revealed to have symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease.
"Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life," his family said in a statement. "He was known for his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and resonating voice, and, of course, for the roles he played. 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."
The actor's publicist tells the AP, "If Hollywood had a Mt. Rushmore, Heston's face would be on it. He was a heroic figure that I don't think exists to the same degree in Hollywood today."
Off-screen, Heston served as president of the Screen Actors Guild, chairman of the American Film Institute, marched in the 1950s civil rights movement and was elected president of the National Rifle Association.
Update: On Friday, April 11, TCM will remember Heston by broadcasting the following films:
3:30 pm/ET:
The Buccaneer (1958, costarring Yul Brynner and Claire Bloom)
5:30 pm:
The Hawaiians (1970, costarring Geraldine Chaplin and John Phillip Law)
9 pm:
Ben Hur (1959, costarring Jack Hawkins and Stephen Boyd)
1 am:
Khartoum (1966, costarring Lawrence Olivier and Richard Johnson)
3:30 am:
Major Dundee (1965, costarring Richard Harris, Jim Hutton and James Coburn)
What's your favorite Charlton Heston performance? I have to say, it's almost eerie that he has left us so close to Easter/Passover, when
The Ten Commandments traditionally airs. -
Matt Mitovich
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