OUR LATEST ISSUE
Screen legend, Chartlon Heston dies
The iconic silver screen actor and star of films such as Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments and Planet of the Apes dies at 84.
"We knew him as an adoring husband, a kind and devoted father, and a gentle grandfather, with an infectious sense of humour"
Heston died at the age of 84 in his Beverly Hills home with wife, Lydia Clarke Heston at his side on Saturday. He is survived by his daughter Holly Ann Heston, his son Fraser Clarke Heston and his three grandchildren.
"We knew him as an adoring husband, a kind and devoted father, and a gentle grandfather, with an infectious sense of humour," said the statement released on Saturday by the family, according to CNN.com.
"He served these far greater roles with tremendous faith, courage and dignity. He loved deeply, and he was deeply loved."
On screen Heston starred in over 100 films and won an Academy Award in 1960 for his role in Ben Hur and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 1972.
However off screen Heston’s held strong, often controversial views and would speak openly about them.
He was a great champion for the civil rights movement and would speak out against racism. In 1961 out side the theatre at one of his own premieres he joined a picket line protesting the theatre’s audience segregation practices. And in 1963 he joined Martin Luther King Jr. civil rights march in Washington.
However as the years went by Heston’s perspective seemed shift as he openly opposed affirmative action and abortion.
He was elected the President of the National Rifle Association in 1998. He also criticized democratic President Bill Clinton regarding gun rights.
In 1997 Heston made a speech at the Free Congress Foundation's 20th Anniversary Gala, which was criticised by gay rights groups, such as GLAAD, for being offensive toward the gay community.
On the other hand Heston is noted for acting in several gay positive characters such at Michelangelo in The Agony and the Ecstasy and his role as Ben Hur penned by openly gay icon Gore Vidal. However Heston stated that the characters were never intended to have a gay subtext.
Later in his life Heston encountered health issues. In 1998 was also diagnosed with prostate cancer and later went into remission. However in 2002 he disclosed that he was suffering from symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and later the following year he stepped down as NRA president.
By 2005 he had retreated from the public most suspecting it was due to his illness. The cause of death has not yet been released.
His family and friends plan to have a private memorial.
For more click here
