Charlton Heston 1923-2008 - With Video
Charlton Heston has died at 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. He was a fine American.
Michael Moore played a dirty trick on him for “Bowling for Columbine” footage and apart from everything, it was that one act by Moore that made me actually despise him as a human being. Not just a fellow American with a different opinion, but a real mean-spirited sensationalist.
Back to Heston…my most memorable scene from a Charlton Heston flick:
And my favorite Heston moment:
The family has released a statement:
“To his loving friends, colleagues and fans, we appreciate your heartfelt prayers and support. 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. Indeed, he committed himself to every role with passion, and pursued every cause with unmatched enthusiasm and integrity.
We knew him as an adoring husband, a kind and devoted father, and a gentle grandfather, with an infectious sense of humor. He served these far greater roles with tremendous faith, courage and dignity. He loved deeply, and he was deeply loved.
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. In his own words, “I have lived such a wonderful life! I’ve lived enough for two people.”
A private memorial service will be held. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Motion Picture and Television Fund:
MPTF
22212 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 300
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
www.mptvfund.org
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Charlton Heston is STILL my president
!
April 5th, 2008 at 8:58 pmAnother great gone with no replacements in sight. What will the kids of today have to look back on? Plastic?
April 5th, 2008 at 9:01 pmGood Journey to you Mr. Heston. Thank You for the memories.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:01 pmAwe…. Rest in peace
April 5th, 2008 at 9:03 pmWhat a loss. He was a great American, and a great old guy.
I’ll never forget the time he called Rush Limbaugh’s show to read a great excerpt from “Jurassic Park,” that STILL had more common sense on climate change than a thousand NY Times editorials…His majestic voice laying out those arguments over the airwaves was just fabulous!
Not to mention Moses and Ben-Hur…
Farewell to a giant!
April 5th, 2008 at 9:05 pmI’m ashamed to admit I still haven’t seen all of “Ben Hur.” But, “Midway” is one of my all-time favorite movies. In a way, he was like Reagan in that he went from a liberal actor, and leader of SAG, to a conservative activist. RIP, Mr. Heston. As a testament to his legacy, Matt Stone & Trey Parker (the creators of “South Park), gave one of the leading characters of “Team America” a Hestonesque voice, and persona.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:32 pmI marched for civil rights with Dr. King in 1963 - long before Hollywood found it fashionable. But when I told an audience last year that white pride is just as valid as black pride or red pride or anyone else’s pride, they called me a racist. I’ve worked with brilliantly talented homosexuals all my life. But when I told an audience that gay rights should extend no further than your rights or my rights, I was called a homophobe. I served in World War II against the Axis powers. But during a speech, when I drew an analogy between singling out innocent Jews and singling out innocent gun owners, I was called an anti-Semite. Everyone I know knows I would never raise a closed fist against my country. But when I asked an audience to oppose this cultural persecution, I was compared to Timothy McVeigh.” (Charlton Heston - 1999)
April 5th, 2008 at 10:25 pmWow, I am having a really bad day.
April 5th, 2008 at 10:54 pmI left for work today after hearing of the death of a dear family friend.
Then I come home from work to find out one of my favorite actors and a personal hero; has died.
He was never my president, but he was one hell of a fellow citizen. Mr. Heston was one of the few people that made it big in Hollywood, but still understood what it really means to be an American.
I hope when they bury him they make sure to include an M-4 with the HK416 upper receiver, chambered for .308 in his “Cold Dead Hands”.
I think I am going to go and clean my guns now.
LftBhndAgn , Thank you for that quote. I’ve read quite a few of his articles in the National Rifleman when he was NRA President but I’d never read that one.
JewishOdysseus , I too heard that Rush show. Here’s another Michael Crichton speech on environmentalism - http://www.crichton-official.com/speech-environmentalismaseligion.html
Chuck, your life was a life of fine works, farewell, rest in peace and God Bless America.
April 5th, 2008 at 11:27 pmJewishOdysseus, found the speech you referred to, everyone, give it a listen, it’s great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozO4YB98mCY&feature=related
April 6th, 2008 at 12:08 amDid not agree with his viewpoints, but would not wish alzheimers on anyone.
April 6th, 2008 at 1:35 amI can’t help but visualize Yul Brenner:
“Moses…Moses.”
At least we still have Ben Affleck.
April 6th, 2008 at 2:02 amA true great American. He will be missed.
Brian
April 6th, 2008 at 3:52 amA truly great movie that he starred in was Touch of Evil, directed by Orson Welles, who also had a key role in the movie. The female lead was a very young Janet Leigh, and Marlene Dietrich had a small cameo role. I highly recommend the “director’s cut” version, though I don’t know how easy it is to find. Absolutely fabulous film noir, top-shelf work by Welles, and a fine performance from Heston. You will not be disappointed.
April 6th, 2008 at 4:31 am“The Agony and The Ecstasy”
Pope Julius II: When will you make an end?
Michelangelo: When I am finished!
So let it be written, so let it be done …
April 6th, 2008 at 7:01 amRIP, Heston! Thanks for everything.
April 6th, 2008 at 8:03 amAnother great American is gone. 55 Days to Peking was another of my favorite Heston movies (there are many).
Alot of people don’t know that he also hosted a Children’s Bible study as well. They were short cartoon flicks of famous Bible characters. It was very well-done.
Heston was a man of many talents. He could play Moses, Ben Hur or a Calvary officer…or a cow puncher…all with seemingly great ease and very convincing.
He was a fan of RR. They both came up from the ranks of old-style Democrats, back when the party was not full of traitors and socialist whackos.
He once spoke of his change in life direction as comming from the time that he spent reading the Bible in preparation for the movie “The Ten Commandments”.
He was a good man. There is no one in Hollyweird at the moment who is worthy enough to even shine Heston’s boots.
Kudos to Heston, for a life well-lived…and a legacy of great films that continue to touch a new generation of Americans.
My sympathies to the family.
April 6th, 2008 at 9:37 amJudah Ben-Hur: Almost at the moment He died, I heard Him say, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
April 6th, 2008 at 9:47 amEsther: Even then.
Judah Ben-Hur: Even then. And I felt His voice take the sword out of my hand.
I have hopes for Gary Sinise.
April 6th, 2008 at 9:52 amSad. I didn’t know him personally, but he sure seemed like a great guy in any interview I saw of him. Love his movies too.
Godspeed Charlton.
April 6th, 2008 at 10:05 amI spoke with him once, in the ’90s, on the phone, on a purely business matter and I still get goose bumps recalling it.
April 6th, 2008 at 11:45 am