Charlton Heston was born on October 4, 1923 and he was American actor and political activist. He was born in Wilmette, Illinois and his parents were Lilla (née Baines; 1899–1994) and Russell Whitford Carter (1897–1966).
It must be noted that in the 1950s and early 1960s Charlton Heston was one of the few Hollywood actors that spoke openly against racism.
He was an active supporter of the Civil Rights Movement . Charlton Heston switched from the Democratic Party in 1987 and became a Republican.
He was the brain behind the conservative political action committee and supported Ronald Reagan. Charlton Heston was the president of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), from 1998 to 2003.
He had to retire from acting and the NRA presidencyafter he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2002.
Charlton Heston Awards and Films
Charlton Heston was nominated for Golden Globe Award for his role in The Ten Commandments (1956).He also won an Academy Award for Best Actor for the role he played in Ben-Hur (1959).
Some of the films Charlton Heston has played roles in include The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), Secret of the Incas (1954), Touch of Evil (1958), The Big Country (1958), El Cid (1961), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Khartoum (1966), Planet of the Apes (1968), Julius Caesar (1970), The Omega Man (1971), Antony and Cleopatra (1972), Soylent Green (1973), The Three Musketeers (1974), Airport 1975 (1974), Earthquake (1974), Crossed Swords (1978), Mother Lode (1982), and Alaska (1996).
Charlton Heston Death
Charlton Heston had a hip replacement in 1996 and later in 1998, he was also diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Charlton Heston was treated for alcoholism at a Utah clinic and he publicly made it known that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease on August 9, 2002.
His condition seemed to have worsened as there were reports that he could not even get out of his bed in March 2005.
Charlton Heston unfortunately died on April 5, 2008, at 84 years, at his home in Beverly Hills, California. He left behind his wife and son Fraser Clarke Heston, and daughter, Holly Ann Heston.
The cause of death was not disclosed by the family but reports indicate that he died of pneumonia. Charlton Heston’s funeral was held on April 12, 2008, at Episcopal Parish of St. Matthew’s Church in Pacific Palisades. He was cremated and his ashes were given to his family
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlton_Heston
