Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston (October 4, 1923 – April 5, 2008) was an American actor and political activist. He had many big roles, such as playing Moses in the movie The Ten Commandments, astronaut Colonel George Taylor in Planet of the Apes (1968) and Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), the dystopian The Omega Man (1971), and Soylent Green (1973). Heston played Judah Ben-Hur in the Academy Award-winning Ben-Hur.

Early life
He was born in Wilmette, Illinois on October 4, 1923. He was raised in St. Helen, Michigan. Heston studied at New Trier High School and at Northwestern University.

Political views
Heston was also known for his politics. When he was young he held liberal views and marched with people such as Martin Luther King, Jr. for civil rights in the 1960s.

It was rare for a Hollywood actor to be for such causes at that time. Later in his life, he was for conservative causes such as gun rights. He was president of the National Rifle Association of America, a group that is for the rights of gun owners, from 1998 to 2003.

In July 2003, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House from President George W. Bush.

Death
Late in his life, Heston had Alzheimer's disease. He died of pneumonia, aged 84, in Beverly Hills, California.Welkos, Robert W. and Susan King. Charlton Heston, 85; actor played epic figures. Los Angeles Times. April 5, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2010.Charlton Heston Dies at Beverly Hills Home. FoxNews.com. April 5, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2010.

References

 Other websites 

Hollywood.com entry
Reel Classics
BBC News Obituary
Obituary and public tribute 
'From Our Files: An Interview with Charlton Heston' by Phil Elderkin, The Christian Science Monitor, November 4, 1959

Category:1923 births
Category:2009 deaths
Category:American Academy Award winning actors
Category:Actors from Illinois
Category:Presidents of the Screen Actors Guild
Category:American movie actors
Category:American television actors
Category:American voice actors
Category:American radio actors
Category:Deaths from pneumonia
Category:People with Alzheimer's disease
Category:Infectious disease deaths in the United States
Category:Screen Actors Guild Award winners
Category:Republicans (United States)
Category:Democrats (United States)