Among his most discussed and revered roles, perhaps Heston will best be remembered as the heroic Jewish prince Ben-Hur in William Wyler’s 1959 biblical epic. For some, his turn as a Mexican border official in Orson Welles’ 1958 film noir Touch of Evil may be a favorite. Or his role as stranded astronaut ‘Taylor’ in the 1968 sci-fi classic Planet of the Apes, which began an entire franchise of films, television, and toys – even his cameo in Tim Burton’s 2001 remake.
Heston continued a stream of film projects throughout the 70’s and 80’s, but with an eye now turned to politics. Once a liberal Democrat who endorsed gun control following the Kennedy and King assassinations, he began drifting politically to the conservative right. His Republican affiliation lead to an association with kindred spirit and former actor Ronald Reagan. By the end of the century, he had all but retired from Hollywood and was elected president of the National Rifle Association in 1998. His staunch pro-gun stance in the aftermath of the Columbine High School shootings the following year provided him with a much different film role as the target of activist Michael Moore’s 2002 documentary Bowling for Columbine. Hated by some – loved by others, Charlton Heston will be remembered as one of Hollywood’s last great leading men. His commanding performances and unique acting style define the spirit of a generation nearly gone, but not forgotten.