American Legends: The Life of Charlton Heston

“[Fame] has complicated my life a little, but not enormously. I had to learn to be a public person, but fame has given me a good deal of control over my career, which I otherwise would not have had. Also, chances to work with some extraordinary men and women." – Charlton Heston

“Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life. He was known for his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and resonating voice, and, of course, for the roles he played. No one could ask for a fuller life than his. No man could have given more to his family, to his profession and to his country.” – An official statement made by Heston’s family after his death

A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.

Charlton Heston had one of the longest and most critically acclaimed careers of any man in Hollywood during the second half of the 20th century, winning an Academy Award for Best Actor and appearing in some of Hollywood’s most beloved classics, including The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), The Ten Commandments (1956), Touch of Evil (1958), Ben-Hur, (1959), El Cid (1961), The Agony and the Ecstasy, and Planet of the Apes (1968). Given so many popular and memorable roles, Heston became known across the nation for playing strong, moral men who were not just fatherly role models but also voices of authority and forces for good.

Of course, it was no coincidence that Heston played roles with these characteristics, because he rejected appearing as a character who did not share his own personal, professional, political or religious outlook. Anyone who was unaware of that would’ve noticed that Heston was outspoken about his beliefs and unabashedly advocated them. During the 1960s, he championed Democratic candidates, but as he grew older, he became an ideological conservative and was perhaps more associated with the Republican Party than anyone else in Hollywood.

Ironically, Heston may be best known by today’s generations for speaking in favor of conservative causes and especially his affiliation with the National Rifle Association, even more than for his actual film career. If so, it certainly didn’t bother Heston, who wrote a speech titled Fighting the Culture War in America and said, “The Constitution was handed down to guide us by a bunch of wise old dead white guys who invented our country! Now some flinch when I say that. Why! It's true-they were white guys! So were most of the guys that died in Lincoln's name opposing slavery in the 1860s. So why should I be ashamed of white guys? Why is "Hispanic Pride" or "Black Pride" a good thing, while ‘White Pride’ conjures shaven heads and white hoods? Why was the Million Man March on Washington celebrated by many as progress, while the Promise Keepers March on Washington was greeted with suspicion and ridicule? I’ll tell you why: Cultural warfare!” Heston remained the president and face of the NRA until stepping down after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and he died a few years later in 2008.

American Legends: The Life of Charlton Heston examines the life and career of one of America’s most famous and infamous actors. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Heston like never before, in no time at all.