Charlton Heston Biography

Charlton Heston is one of the most dedicated and talented actors of our time. His movies are regarded as some of the best epic movies in history and some of the most successful. Two of his pictures, The Ten Commandments (1956) and Ben-Hur (1959), are among the all-time top-grossing films.

He has received many accolades including two Oscars, one for his role in Ben-Hur and other notable awards such as the Kennedy Centre Honours for Lifetime Achievement in the Performing Arts Award, where he was just one of 105 individuals ever to receive this award.

Not only a film actor, Charlton made his Broadway stage debut in Antony and Cleopatra in 1947 and has continued to appear in plays as and when his schedule has permitted.

Beginning with The Three Musketeers (1973), Heston's time as a Hollywood leading man began to draw to a close and he was seen in an increasing number of supporting roles and cameos. He starred in the prime-time soap, The Colbys from 1985 to 1987, his only stint on series television. With his son Fraser, he also starred in and produced several TV movies, including remakes of "Treasure Island" and "A Man For All Seasons". Heston received excellent reviews for his 1992 series on the A&E cable network, "Charlton Heston Presents The Bible", which achieved great success on video and DVD.

"I have lived such a wonderful life. I've lived enough for two people."

 In 1993, he appeared in a cameo role in Wayne's World 2. That same year, he hosted Saturday Night Live. He subsequently had cameos in the films Hamlet, Tombstone and True Lies.

He continued to be a major drawing card in live theatre as his film stardom declined, especially at the Los Angeles Music Center where he appeared in such plays as Police Story, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, and as Sherlock Holmes in The Crucifer of Blood opposite Jeremy Brett as Dr. Watson, who would later win acclaim for his own interpretation of the great detective.

But Heston has always been more than a star. Although he is a private man, he has often appeared to be a very public one, willing to speak up on issues he believes in, however controversial they may be. He has visited troops fighting during the Vietnam War and was a strong supporter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Charlton is above all a 'family man'. He’s been married for more than 50 years, to Lydia Clarke Heston, who he married on 17th March, 1944. Charlton is father to Fraser and Holly and is a grandfather too. With his son Fraser, Charlton set up a film, television and digital production company ‘Agamemnon Films’, in 1981.

In 1998, shortly after he was elected President of the National Rifle Association, Heston had a hip replacement. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer later in the same year. Following a course of radiation treatment, the cancer went into remission.

In August 2002, Heston publicly announced he was diagnosed with symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease. The following year he stepped down from his post with the National Rifle Association.

Following a serious deterioration in his condition, Heston died at his home in Beverly Hills on 5 April, 2008. He was 84. In a statement, his family said: "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. 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'."