Closing Credits: Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston passed away on Saturday night, at his home, with his wife by his side.
The man was an acting legend and appeared in some amazing epic films including Ben-Hur and the Ten Commandments.
Looking back to his acting career, instead of his later non-acting activities, he starred in so many classic films and roles that he became a screen legend, possibly one of the biggest and most recognisable faces and voices on the big screen.
Personally I remember films such as The Greatest Show on Earth, Cecil B. DeMille's fantastic film about the life of circus people travelling from show to show and starring the other great acting talent of James Stewart. I loved that film.
The next big film I remember was The Ten Commandments, and that was a huge epic. Playing Moses in the huge film by Cecil B. DeMille charting the story of Moses and starring a host of big names.
Touch of Evil is another interesting film in his career, probably more famous for being an Orson Welles film than having Heston in the lead, his character does stand out in the film.
Then of course there was Ben-Hur, that classic film that is perhaps his most well known.
El Cid is a film I remember vaguely, having seen it on afternoon television some time ago, but I remember little about it. The same goes for The Greatest Story Ever Told, an epic tale of the life of Jesus.
However if we're talking iconic parts from the man you have to have Planet of the Apes on the list, as well as The Omega Man. Both films are ranking at the top of his most classic of roles, and it's hard to beat these films. Sure both could have been done better, and some may argue that his characters are always the same, but the films are superbly entertaining, and his characters are great to watch on screen.
Soylent Green probably goes a little against the grain for what someone might think the Heston characters and performances should be. Here he plays a role that is similar to the one from Planet of the Apes and The Omega Man, and provides a very strong emotional closure for the story.
The following few films that continue that trend of picking some unlikely roles are The Three Musketeers and sequel, The Awakening and True Lies. All three are other notable roles that I really enjoyed seeing him in and all gave something a little different from the legendary actor.
What are your favourite Charlton Heston performances?
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