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Obituaries

Charlton Heston: Roles of a lifetime

By Susan King, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Charlton Heston was a major movie star for over half a century, appearing in some of the most popular films made during that era. He could be romantic, rugged and sometimes even funny. And he was willing to make fun of his heroic -- and some might say also pompous -- image on "Saturday Night Live," "Wayne's World 2" and even on "Friends." But he seemed most at home in epics such as "Ben-Hur," for which he won his Oscar, and playing historical figures such as Moses in "The Ten Commandments," Andrew Jackson in "The President's Lady" and "The Buccaneer" and Michelangelo in "The Agony and the Ecstasy." He also served seven times as president of the Screen Actors Guild, was chairman of the American Film Institute and the winner of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Jean Hersholt Award for his humanitarian activities. An outspoken conservative in his later years, he was a strong advocate for the National Rifle Association and served as the organization's president from 1998 to 2003. Heston showed incredible bravery when he announced in 2002 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. "For an actor there is no greater loss than the loss of his audience," he said. "I can part the Red Sea, but I can't part with you . . . " Here's a look at Heston's life in film, TV and theater: Read Heston's obituary here.

By Susan King, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Charlton Heston was a major movie star for over half a century, appearing in some of the most popular films made during that era. He could be romantic, rugged and sometimes even funny. And he was willing to make fun of his heroic -- and some might say also pompous -- image on “Saturday Night Live,” “Wayne’s World 2” and even on “Friends.”

But he seemed most at home in epics such as “Ben-Hur,” for which he won his Oscar, and playing historical figures such as Moses in “The Ten Commandments,” Andrew Jackson in “The President’s Lady” and “The Buccaneer” and Michelangelo in “The Agony and the Ecstasy.”

He also served seven times as president of the Screen Actors Guild, was chairman of the American Film Institute and the winner of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Jean Hersholt Award for his humanitarian activities. An outspoken conservative in his later years, he was a strong advocate for the National Rifle Association and served as the organization’s president from 1998 to 2003.

Heston showed incredible bravery when he announced in 2002 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. “For an actor there is no greater loss than the loss of his audience,” he said. “I can part the Red Sea, but I can’t part with you . . . “

Here’s a look at Heston’s life in film, TV and theater:

Read Heston’s obituary here.   (Volker Dornberger / EPA)

Ben Hur

“Ben-Hur” (1959)

Wyler directed this expensive epic based on the novel by Gen. Lew Wallace, which the director referred to as “Hollywood’s first intimate spectacle.” The film earned 11 Oscars, including lead actor for Heston, best film and director, and held the title as the single film with the most Oscars for nearly 40 years until “Titanic” tied it 10 years ago. The religious drama is Heston’s greatest screen triumph, but when the lead actor Oscar nominations were announced, apparently many in Hollywood were surprised because they didn’t think his earnest, noble turn was on par with other nominees such as Jack Lemmon from “Some Like It Hot” and James Stewart in “Anatomy of a Murder.”   (Cinecitta Studios / Associated Press)

El Cid

“El Cid” (1961)

Though this lavish epic about the legendary Spanish hero, Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, didn’t have the impact of “Ben-Hur,” it is still a terrific period drama. And Heston is particularly moving as the famed hero who leads the Spaniards against the Moors, and his romantic scenes with Sophia Loren are haunting. It’s hard to believe that the two didn’t actually get along. Anthony Mann directed the spectacular film, which has been recently restored.   (Jamie Pato / EPA)

Charlton Heston

‘Bowling for Columbine’ (2002)

Heston’s last major film appearance was in Michael Moore‘s 2002 documentary, “Bowling for Columbine,” which examines gun violence in America. At the film’s conclusion, Moore confronts Heston about why he went to a pro-gun rally Flint, Mich., shortly after the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. The portrait of Heston is less than flattering, though several critics thought Moore unfairly set up the actor.   (Rodolfo Gonzalez / Associated Press)

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