2008 Woodie Awards
Charlton Heston
1924-2008
Stacy Walz
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Culture
Award-winning actor and political activist Charlton Heston died Saturday, April 5, 2008 at age 84. Heston had been living with Alzheimer's disease since 2002, but the precise cause of death is not currently known. He is survived by his wife Lydia, of 64 years.
Heston's first professional movie was the 1950 noir film "Dark City." His most well-known role was probably Judah Ben Hur in the movie "Ben Hur," which earned him the first of eleven Oscars. He had a habit of playing legendary men, such as Moses, Marc Antony, King Henry VIII, Michelangelo, Long John Silver and Thomas Jefferson.
Several television programs have included Heston. He made a brief appearance on "Wayne's World 2" in 1993 and hosted "Saturday Night Live" twice. He also acted on the stage, which was where he began his acting career.
Heston is primarily remembered as a movie star, but was involved in political and social issues throughout his life. He stood up for what he believed in, whether it was popular or not.
In a February 1999 speech given to Harvard students, Heston recalled that he "marched for civil rights with Dr. King in 1963-and long before Hollywood found it acceptable, I may say."
In his speech to Harvard students, Heston spoke against political correctness and stated that "If Americans believed in political correctness, we'd still be King George's boys-subjects bound to the British crown." He then asked why political correctness began on college campuses and why students continued to go along with its "suppression."
Students were finally challenged to "disavow cultural correctness with massive disobedience of rogue authority, social directives and onerous laws that weaken personal freedom." His example of standing up for personal freedoms and beliefs provides a model for all of us, whether or not you agree with the beliefs he championed.
He campaigned for JFK in 1960, then became a republican and campaigned for Reagan and both Bush presidents. From 1998 to 2003, Heston was the president of the National Rifle Association, which he received heated criticism for. In 2003, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
A list of Charlton Heston's achievements could fill several pages. There are, however, several other noteworthy details about his life. He served in the military during WWII, was president of the Screen Actors Guild (1965-1971) and wrote three books.
The full text of his Harvard speech can be viewed by searching for his name at www.americanrhetoric.com/sitesearch.•
Heston's first professional movie was the 1950 noir film "Dark City." His most well-known role was probably Judah Ben Hur in the movie "Ben Hur," which earned him the first of eleven Oscars. He had a habit of playing legendary men, such as Moses, Marc Antony, King Henry VIII, Michelangelo, Long John Silver and Thomas Jefferson.
Several television programs have included Heston. He made a brief appearance on "Wayne's World 2" in 1993 and hosted "Saturday Night Live" twice. He also acted on the stage, which was where he began his acting career.
Heston is primarily remembered as a movie star, but was involved in political and social issues throughout his life. He stood up for what he believed in, whether it was popular or not.
In a February 1999 speech given to Harvard students, Heston recalled that he "marched for civil rights with Dr. King in 1963-and long before Hollywood found it acceptable, I may say."
In his speech to Harvard students, Heston spoke against political correctness and stated that "If Americans believed in political correctness, we'd still be King George's boys-subjects bound to the British crown." He then asked why political correctness began on college campuses and why students continued to go along with its "suppression."
Students were finally challenged to "disavow cultural correctness with massive disobedience of rogue authority, social directives and onerous laws that weaken personal freedom." His example of standing up for personal freedoms and beliefs provides a model for all of us, whether or not you agree with the beliefs he championed.
He campaigned for JFK in 1960, then became a republican and campaigned for Reagan and both Bush presidents. From 1998 to 2003, Heston was the president of the National Rifle Association, which he received heated criticism for. In 2003, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
A list of Charlton Heston's achievements could fill several pages. There are, however, several other noteworthy details about his life. He served in the military during WWII, was president of the Screen Actors Guild (1965-1971) and wrote three books.
The full text of his Harvard speech can be viewed by searching for his name at www.americanrhetoric.com/sitesearch.•
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