By Shannonn Kelly
Diagnosed with a neurological disorder with symptoms resembling Alzheimer’s disease, Charlton Heston died Saturday in his home in Beverly Hills, CA with his wife of 64 years, Lydia, by his side. Heston is also survived by a daughter, a son and three grandchildren.
At 6 foot 3 inches tall, Heston was large in life as well as on screen playing heros both fictional and historical on the big screen. “I’ve played cardinals and cowboys, kings and quarterbacks, presidents and painters, cops and con men,” Heston once said.
He played the lead in “El Cid” 1961 and starred as Michelangelo in “The Agony and the Ecstasy” (1965), Moses in the blockbuster 1956 film “The Ten Commandments”, and Roman chariot-racing epic “Ben Hur.”
Heston even had a cult following for his turns in memorable roles as a marooned astronaut in 1968 science-fiction film “Planet of the Apes” and a detective in another futuristic cult classic, 1973’s “Soylent Green”.
Even Heston couldn’t escape Michael Moore’s scrutiny when Moore ambushed Heston in his home for an interview in “Bowling for Columbine” on the topic of guns, showing Heston pictures of children killed by guns. Heston was often in the spotlight for his outspoken political views and his support and leadership of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
He achieved notoriety in 2000 when declaring at an NRA convention that his guns would have to be pried away “from my cold, dead hands.”…
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