Actor Charlton Heston, Who Played Moses, Dies at 84

Legendary actor Charlton Heston who’s best known for his acting roles as Moses, Michelangelo, Andrew Jackson, Henry VIII and other heroic figures in religious and historical movies in the ’50s and ’60s, has died.

Legendary actor Charlton Heston who’s best known for his acting roles as Moses, Michelangelo, Andrew Jackson, Henry VIII and other heroic figures in religious and historical movies in the ’50s and ’60s, has died. The 84 year-old part Native American actor born John Charles Carter passed away Saturday at his Beverly Hills home with his wife Lydia by his side on April 5, 2008.

Charlton Heston, made his acting debut in the 1940’s in two independent films by a college classmate, he would then go on to continue acting making from $50 per week and later becoming a Hollywood star and starring in some of the best movies to date.

In 2002, Charlton Heston revealed that he had symptoms consistent with Alzheimer’s disease, saying, “I must reconcile courage and surrender in equal measure.”

Because of his strong and defined facial structure, Heston seldom would state that, “I have a face that belongs in another century,” which made him even more popular in conjunction with his voice.

Heston served as president of the Screen Actors Guild and chairman of the American Film Institute and marched in the civil rights movement in the 1950s. He become the National Rifle Association president in 1998 and later resigned in April of 2003. In late 2003 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Heston has played numerous historical figures which included, 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”).

The Heston family released the following statement in regards to his death, “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. He was known for his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and resonating voice, and, of course, for the roles he played. Indeed, he committed himself to every role with passion, and pursued every cause with unmatched enthusiasm and integrity. We knew him as an adoring husband, a kind and devoted father, and a gentle grandfather, with an infectious sense of humor. He served these far greater roles with tremendous faith, courage and dignity. He loved deeply, and he was deeply loved. 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.'”