Charlton Heston (1924-2008)

Iconic actor Charlton Heston passed away last night at his home in Beverly Hills. Heston had been in the advance stages of Alzheimer’s disease, which he publicly announced he had been diagnosed with back in 2002.

Heston appeared in over 100 movies, including his Oscar-winning performance as the title character in the epic Ben-Hur. Heston was also well known for his portrayal of Moses in The Ten Commandments, as well as astronaut George Taylor in Planet of the Apes. Other notable Heston films include The Greatest Show On Earth, Touch of Evil, El Cid, Soylent Green and Earthquake.

Heston was also very involved in politics, with his most notable public role being named president of the National Rifle Association in 1998, and giving a widely scrutinized speech in 2000 about gun rights when he held a musket in the air and proclaimed “I’ll give you my gun when you take it from my cold, dead hands.”

Heston also served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1966 to 1971. In 2003, he was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Heston is survived by his wife Lydia, whom he married in 1944, as well as a son and a daughter.

Charlton Heston was 83-years-old.