All Time Greats
Charlton Heston: Histrionic talents personified
The name Charlton Heston is synonymous with the roles of Michaelangelo, Ben-Hur and Moses. From his first major appearance in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), his career touched its peak with Ben-Hur (1959). Then followed a string of hits, such as The Ten Commandments, El Cid, The Agony and the Ecstasy, Julius Caesar, The Three Musketeers, Airport, Hamlet and The Planet of the Apes.Born on October 4, 1924, Heston sometimes had to struggle 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. In 1971 he ventured into direction. He made his directorial debut with Antony and Cleopatra, an adaptation of the William Shakespeare play that he had performed during his earlier theatre career. Beginning with The Three Musketeers (1973), Heston played a number of supporting roles and cameos. Despite this, his immense popularity has never died, and a steady stream of film and television roles have come his way ever since. Heston's baritone voice is instantly recognisable and is often heard as a narrator. A little known facet of Heston is his authorship of several books, including autobiographies and religious works. Among the titles are: The Actor's Life, In the Arena: An Autobiography, Beijing Diary, To Be a Man: Letters to My Grandson, Charlton Heston Presents the Bible and Charlton Heston's Hollywood: 50 Years in American Film (with Jean-Pierre Isbouts). Compiled by Cultural Correspondent
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