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Charlton Heston: A Tribute in Youtube Clips
April 06, 2008 12:02 PM
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., today issued a statement about the death of actor Charlton Heston.
"In taking on epic and commanding roles, he showed himself to be one of our nation's most gifted actors, and his legacy will forever be a part of our cinema," McCain said. "Off-the-screen, Charlton Heston was also a real-life leader. He served his country and proudly gave his voice in support of some of our most basic rights. He was devoted to the cause of freedom for all Americans from the battle for civil rights in the 1960s to protecting Second Amendment rights in the 1990s. At this time of grief, let us honor a life that has truly touched millions."
**
Heston was "I am Legend' before Will Smith, as "The Omega Man."
He was Judah Ben-Hur.
He was Moses -- he parted the Red Sea!
"Fear not," he said. "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord."
He told us that soylent green is people.
He yelled at a "damn dirty ape" to take his "stinking paws" off him. And later, he wept on the beach for what humans did to the planet.
Active in the civil rights movement in the early 1960s, he became active in the gun rights movement in the 1980s, explaining his position in a speech to the NRA in 1989.
He later proclaimed that the government could only get his gun if they took it from his cold dead hands.
For that, he was mocked by Michael Moore and George Clooney.
What did you think of him?
- jpt
April 6, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (26)
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I grew up watching his movies. He was always larger than life on screen for me. Ben Hur still ranks as one of my all time favorites, with Touch of Evil, The Big Country and Ten Commandments not far behind. His loss, along with Richard Widmark's not even a few weeks ago, reminds us all of the Golden Age of Hollywood and how good movies could be.
My respects to his family and friends.
Posted by: Texas Voter | Apr 6, 2008 2:46:03 PM
He will probably not be seen as a Hollywood saint, like Gregory Peck, because of some of his personal views, but that doesn't change the fact that he is a legend in cinematic history. I hope his family is at peace now after the long struggle with his Alzheimer's.
Posted by: Simone | Apr 6, 2008 2:29:50 PM
I hear that he wanted to be buried with his favorite shotgun, but that someone pried his gun out of his cold, dead hands...
Posted by: Mark Kraft | Apr 6, 2008 2:07:32 PM
I was not a big fan of his movies or his politics. But I feel for him and his family. My grandmother, aunt and father died of Alzheimer's and it as an awful way to go. He has probably been brain dead last few years. As we get older we worry to much about how we will look. We need to worry more about our minds. He is finally at peace.
Posted by: Tina D | Apr 6, 2008 1:49:26 PM
I wonder if he was holding his gun when he died, and if they had to pry it out of his cold, dead hands? (This was a favorite expression of his, in case any reader might think I'm being disrespectful). Charlton Heston was one committed character. I didn't always agree with his politics, but you have to give it to him on toughness and consistency. May he rest in peace.
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Apr 6, 2008 1:06:00 PM
Unequivocally the best cinematic actor in history. His presence in films is strong, memorable, and majestic.
Posted by: JennyC | Apr 6, 2008 12:51:53 PM
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