On 5 April, Charlton Heston passed away at the age of 84. The legend of Hollywood was known as an actor passionate about his work and his movies will always be remembered. Among Heston’s best known roles are Moses in The Ten Commandments, Colonel George Taylor in Planet of the Apes, as well as his role in Ben-Hur which won him an Oscar as Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Charlton Heston who could perfectly undertake both historical and religious roles often remarked that he had a “face that belongs in another century.”
Yet, despite being best known in cinema, Heston was also engaged in politics. He considering Kennedy and Reagan as friends and Heston accompanied Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1963 Civil Rights March. He also campaigned on behalf of all those who fought for civil rights.
He also had a great talent for making people listen to him. While serving as president of the National Rifle Association, Heston made the organization better known and was willing to talk and listen to people as well as ready to accept criticism of his views.
Heston also wrote books, some of which are The Actor’s Life, In the Arena, An Autobiography, from 1995, 50 Years of American Filmmaking etc.
Heston will remain an icon of classical acting and SFGate sums up his legacy.
“Heston’s purity of essence was his strength. He was this kind of actor: You stand him up, put a camera on him, and he meant something. He meant heroism – not anti-heroism, and not even American-style heroism, like, say, John Wayne. Rather Heston represented some mythic conception of heroism, of struggling, teeth-gritting, muscle-popping humanity going into head-to-head combat with ignorance and oppression. He was classical, archetypal. “
Photo: © boston.com
No related posts.
