Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter on October 4, 1923, although the year is usually given as 1924), is an American film actor noted for heroic roles, and his long involvement in political issues.

Film career

Heston felt the time had come to move to Hollywood and break into film. In 1950, he earned recognition for his appearance in his first professional movie, Dark City. His breakthrough came in 1952 with his role of a circus director in The Greatest Show on Earth. But he became a megastar by portraying Moses in The Ten Commandments. He has played leading roles in a number of fictional and historical epics—such as Ben-Hur, El Cid, 55 Days in Peking, and Khartoum—during his long career. He once quipped, "They seem to think I have a Medieval face!" He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his 1959 performance in the title role of Ben-Hur, one of 11 earned by that film.

Related Topics:
Hollywood - Film - 1950 - Dark City - 1952 - The Greatest Show on Earth - Moses - The Ten Commandments - Ben-Hur - El Cid - 55 Days in Peking - Khartoum - Medieval - Academy Award for Best Actor - 1959

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Heston also starred in various science fiction films and disaster movies, some of which, like Planet of the Apes, Soylent Green, Earthquake, and The Omega Man, have become classics. Heston continues acting, increasingly in TV movies.

Related Topics:
Science fiction - Disaster movie - Planet of the Apes - Soylent Green - Earthquake - The Omega Man - TV movie

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Heston fought at times for his artistic choices. In 1958, he maneuvered Universal International into allowing Orson Welles to direct him in Touch of Evil, and in 1965 he fought the studio in support of Sam Peckinpah, when an attempt was made to interfere with his direction of Major Dundee. Heston was also president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1966 to 1971.

Related Topics:
1958 - Universal International - Orson Welles - Touch of Evil - 1965 - Sam Peckinpah - Major Dundee - Screen Actors Guild - 1966 - 1971

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In 1971 he made his directorial debut with Antony and Cleopatra, an adaptation of the William Shakespeare play that he had performed during his earlier theater career.

Related Topics:
1971 - Antony and Cleopatra - William Shakespeare

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Starting with 1973's The Three Musketeers, Heston began playing an increasing number of supporting roles and cameos. Despite this, his immense popularity has never died, and he has seen a steady stream of film and television roles ever since. Heston has an instantly recognizable voice, and is often heard as a narrator.

Related Topics:
1973 - The Three Musketeers - Narrator

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