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| Charlton Heston dies at Beverly Hills Home; Outspoken Christian and Patriot Gone | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 6 2008, 12:03 AM (532 Views) | |
| Sunshine | Apr 6 2008, 12:03 AM Post #1 |
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Ruler of the Mountain
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Charlton Heston Dies at Beverly Hills Home LOS ANGELES — Charlton Heston, who won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing 'Ben-Hur' and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the '50s and '60s, has died. He was 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 any further details. Heston revealed in 2002 that he had symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease, saying, 'I must reconcile courage and surrender in equal measure.' With his large, muscular build, well-boned face and sonorous voice, Heston proved the ideal star during the period when Hollywood was filling movie screens with panoramas depicting the religious and historical past. 'I have a face that belongs in another century,' he often remarked. The actor played the role of leader offscreen as well. He served as president of the Screen Actors Guild and chairman of the American Film Institute and marched in the civil rights movement of the 1950s. With age he grew more conservative and campaigned for conservative candidates. In June 1998, Heston was elected president of the National Rifle Association, for which he had posed for ads holding a rifle. He delivered a jab at then-President Clinton, saying, 'America doesn't trust you with our 21-year-old daughters, and we sure, Lord, don't trust you with our guns.' Heston stepped down as NRA president in April 2003, telling members his five years in office were 'quite a ride. ... I loved every minute of it.' That same year, Heston was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. 'The largeness of character that comes across the screen has also been seen throughout his life,' President Bush said at the time. He engaged in a lengthy feud with liberal Ed Asner during the latter's tenure as president of the Screen Actors Guild. His latter-day activism almost overshadowed his achievements as an actor, which were considerable. Heston lent his strong presence to some of the most acclaimed and successful films of the midcentury. 'Ben-Hur' won 11 Academy Awards, tying it for the record with the more recent 'Titanic' (1997) and 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' (2003). Heston's other hits include: 'The Ten Commandments,' 'El Cid,' '55 Days at Peking,' 'Planet of the Apes' and 'Earthquake.' He liked the cite the number of historical figures he had portrayed: Andrew Jackson ('The President's Lady,' 'The Buccaneer'), Moses ('The Ten Commandments'), title role of 'El Cid,' John the Baptist ('The Greatest Story Ever Told'), Michelangelo ('The Agony and the Ecstasy'), General Gordon ('Khartoum'), Marc Antony ('Julius Caesar,' 'Antony and Cleopatra'), Cardinal Richelieu ('The Three Musketeers'), Henry VIII ('The Prince and the Pauper'). Heston made his movie debut in the 1940s in two independent films by a college classmate, David Bradley, who later became a noted film archivist. He had the title role in 'Peer Gynt' in 1942 and was Marc Antony in Bradley's 1949 version of 'Julius Caesar,' for which Heston was paid $50 a week. Film producer Hal B. Wallis ('Casablanca') spotted Heston in a 1950 television production of 'Wuthering Heights' and offered him a contract. When his wife reminded him that they had decided to pursue theater and television, he replied, 'Well, maybe just for one film to see what it's like.' Heston earned star billing from his first Hollywood movie, 'Dark City,' a 1950 film noir. Cecil B. DeMille next cast him as the circus manager in the all-star 'The Greatest Show On Earth,' named by the Motion Picture Academy as the best picture of 1952. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,346965,00.html |
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| Almtnman | Apr 6 2008, 08:23 AM Post #2 |
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Administrator
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He was one of the last remaining Hollywood stars that seemed to have any common sense. We used to have a lot of people in Hollywood like him that stood for our country, but now we're getting a whole bunch of kooks out there. Mr. Heston did more for his country than most of the rest of the crowd there now will ever do. He will be missed. He was a champion for our 2nd Amendment Rights. |
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| gobblerblaster | Apr 6 2008, 07:35 PM Post #3 |
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gobblerblaster
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Charlton Heston died today in his Hollywood home. He was a cherished part of the Conservative movement and never pulled a punch when talking about issues of Faith and the Second Amendment. http://news.aol.com/entertainment/movies/m...406011709990001 |
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| Jeminga | Apr 7 2008, 08:01 AM Post #4 |
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I had gotten something from the NRA this past week & my wife & I were talking and Charlton Heston came up. We were just discussing what a great man Charlton Heston was. His will be missed. |
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| gobblerblaster | Apr 7 2008, 08:23 AM Post #5 |
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gobblerblaster
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Sorry for the double thread post Almtnmn, I didn't read through before I posted. I think the thing that stands out most in my mind about Mr. Heston was when he stood before the NRA convention and held the Sharps rifle over his head and proclaimed " Out of my cold dead hands" that was the clarion cry of all of us that hold our second amendment rights near and dear. A True American Patriot
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| legitlinda | Apr 8 2008, 12:07 AM Post #6 |
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Ruler of the Mountain
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A good man in the public eye who used his celebrity for good even in the face of opposition from his peers. We were blessed to have him. It's a great loss. God bless his family. |
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| Duke | May 7 2008, 04:26 PM Post #7 |
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Duke
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Charlton Heston held my respect for several reasons and I will miss knowing he is around. What I meant by that is; having people like him in this country is a comfort and a blessing. He left a pretty big shoe print. God bless the memory of him and God bless his family and friends, Duke |
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| Nancy | May 11 2008, 09:09 PM Post #8 |
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Ruler of the Hill
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I remember that. It brought chills and made me proud. I know he lived a long and full life, but I will miss him being here with us. He was definitely a keeper. |
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