Charlton Heston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlton Heston
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Charlton Heston (1953)
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| President of the Screen Actors Guild | |
| In office 1965–1971 |
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| Preceded by | Dana Andrews |
| Succeeded by | John Gavin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Charles Carter
October 4, 1923 Wilmette, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | April 5, 2008 (aged 84) Beverly Hills, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Pneumonia |
| Resting place | Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church Columbarium Pacific Palisades, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Spouse | Lydia Clarke (1944-2008; his death) |
| Children | Fraser Clarke Heston (b. 1955) Holly Ann Heston (b. 1961) |
| Education | New Trier High School |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University |
| Occupation | Actor, film director, activist |
Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923 – April 5, 2008) was a famous American actor and activist. He starred in many movies over 60 years.
He is best known for playing Moses in the epic film The Ten Commandments (1956). He also starred in Ben-Hur (1959), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor. Other popular films include El Cid (1961) and Planet of the Apes (1968).
Heston was also active in politics. In the 1960s, he supported Democratic politicians and the civil rights movement. Later, he became a Republican. He was president of the National Rifle Association (NRA) from 1998 to 2003. He retired in 2003 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Heston passed away on April 5, 2008, at age 84.
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Early Life and Education
Charlton Heston was born in Wilmette, Illinois, on October 4, 1923. He grew up in St. Helen, Michigan.
He went to New Trier High School and later studied at Northwestern University. Even as a child, he loved acting out characters from books.
Acting Career Highlights
Heston had a long and successful career in Hollywood. He appeared in about 100 films.
His role as Moses in The Ten Commandments earned him his first Golden Globe Award nomination. He also starred in Touch of Evil (1958) with Orson Welles.
For his role in Ben-Hur, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, which is one of the highest honors in film. Other notable films include The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) and The Big Country (1958).
Later Acting Roles
From 1985 to 1987, Heston starred in the TV series The Colbys. He also worked with his son, Fraser, to produce and star in several TV movies. These included remakes of Treasure Island.
In 1992, he hosted a series called Charlton Heston Presents the Bible. In this series, he read passages from the King James version of the Bible.
Political Involvement
Heston was well-known for his political views. When he was younger, he held liberal beliefs. He even marched with civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s. It was unusual for a Hollywood actor to support such causes at that time.
Later in his life, he became a conservative. He strongly supported gun rights. He served as the president of the National Rifle Association (NRA) from 1998 to 2003. The NRA is a group that supports the rights of gun owners.
In July 2003, President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest honors a civilian can receive in the United States.
Illness and Passing
In 1996, Heston had a hip replacement surgery. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1998. After treatment, the cancer went into remission, meaning it was under control.
On August 9, 2002, Heston announced that he had symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. This is a condition that affects memory and thinking.
His last public appearance was in July 2003, when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Friends and family noted that his illness progressed over time.
Charlton Heston died on April 5, 2008, at his home in Beverly Hills, California. He was 84 years old. His wife of 64 years, Lydia, was by his side. Media outlets later reported that his death was due to pneumonia.
Legacy and Impact
Film critics and historians remember Charlton Heston for his powerful performances. Richard Corliss from Time magazine called him a "grand, ornery anachronism." He said Heston represented a time when Hollywood took itself seriously.
Film critic Roger Ebert noted that Heston made at least three movies that almost everyone sees: Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, and Planet of the Apes.
His films were celebrated in a special event called Cinematic Atlas: The Triumphs of Charlton Heston. This event showed 11 of his films in New York City.
In 2010, Heston was inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum's Hall of Great Western Performers.
A charter school named Charlton Heston Academy opened in his childhood hometown of St. Helen, Michigan, in 2012.
In 2014, Charlton Heston was honored on a United States postage stamp. He was also awarded the Order of Lincoln, Illinois' highest honor, in 1977.
Filmography
Images for kids
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Heston as Mark Antony in Julius Caesar (1950)
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Heston with Katy Jurado in Arrowhead (1953)
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Orson Welles, Victor Millan, Joseph Calleia and Heston in Touch of Evil (1958)
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Heston in Ben-Hur (1959)
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Drawing of Heston after he won an Oscar for Ben-Hur in 1959 (artist: Nicholas Volpe)
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Heston at a congressional hearing in 1961
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Charlton Heston (left) with James Baldwin, Marlon Brando, and Harry Belafonte at the Civil Rights March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom 1963: Sidney Poitier is in the background.
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Heston at the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, DC with Sidney Poitier (left) and Harry Belafonte
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Heston's handprints and footprints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
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See also
In Spanish: Charlton Heston para niños
