Charlton Heston won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 1959 blockbuster hit, Ben-Hur. He will also always be fondly remembered by all fans of the Planet of the Apes films, as he starred in the very first one. However, his most legendary role was that of playing Moses in the 1956 Cecille B. DeMille epic tale of the Exodus, The Ten Commandments. Said classic has been shown on network television now almost once a year for the past 30 years or so, usually during Holy Week, so as to be close to Easter and Passover.
Heston was one of the more politically involved actors in Hollywood. He began his career supporting Democrats, but became more conservative later in life and starting supporting Republicans. He even became deeply involved with the very conservative National Rifle Association. President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003.
Heston died on April 5, 2008. He was married to his wife Lydia Clarke for 64 years and they had one son and one daughter.
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