Bush leads tributes as Hollywood mourns Heston
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LOS ANGELES (AFP) — US President George W. Bush led the tributes to Charlton Heston on Sunday after the chisel-jawed Hollywood icon died at his home in Beverly Hills aged 84.
Heston, best remembered for his Oscar-winning performance in the 1959 chariot-racing classic "Ben Hur" and the star of a slew of other biblical epics, passed away on Saturday with his wife of 64 years, Lydia, at his side.
The actor -- an outspoken liberal in the 1960s who attracted controversy in the later years of his life after becoming a Republican and a staunch gun advocate -- revealed in 2002 he been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
Bush, who draped the Presidential Medal of Freedom around Heston's neck in a 2003 ceremony, hailed the actor as "one of the most successful actors in movie history and a strong advocate for liberty."
"He was a man of character and integrity, with a big heart," Bush said.
Former first lady Nancy Reagan said in a statement she was "heartbroken" by news of Heston's death, describing the actor as one of her and her late husband Ronald Reagan's "dearest friends."
"I will never forget Chuck as a hero on the big screen in the roles he played, but more importantly I considered him a hero in my life for the many times he stepped up to support Ronnie in whatever he was doing," Reagan said.
Heston's family said on Saturday that the world had known the towering, six-foot, three-inch (1.90 meter) actor as "larger than life."
But, Heston's relatives said in a statement, "we knew him as an adoring husband, a kind and devoted father, and a gentle grandfather, with an infectious sense of humor."
"He served these far greater roles with tremendous faith, courage and dignity," the Heston family statement said.
Born John Charlton Carter on October 4, 1923 in Evanston, Illinois, Heston created his pseudonym by combining his mother's maiden name, Charlton, with his stepfather's name, Heston.
His talent for acting was discovered after his family moved to suburban Chicago, where he became the star in several school plays.
From there, he went to nearby Northwestern University, served in the air force in World War II and eventually landed on Broadway, making his debut in "Anthony and Cleopatra."
He made his feature film debut in 1941 appearing as the lead character in "Peer Gynt."
His penchant for playing historical figures was in evidence again when he appeared as Mark Anthony in 1950's "Julius Caesar," yet it was his performance as circus manager Brad Baden in the Cecil B. DeMille epic "The Greatest Show on Earth", that signaled his star potential.
Another collaboration with DeMille saw him star as Moses in the blockbuster 1956 film "The Ten Commandments", before William Wyler's landmark Roman chariot-racing epic "Ben Hur."
Weighing in at nearly four hours in length, the film was to mark the zenith of the Hollywood fashion of that time for lavish biblical-themed productions.
Heston played dozens of fictional and historical heroes, playing the lead in "El Cid" 1961 and starring as Michelangelo in "The Agony and the Ecstasy" (1965).
"I've played cardinals and cowboys, kings and quarterbacks, presidents and painters, cops and conmen," Heston once said.
Other memorable roles include a marooned astronaut in the superb 1968 science-fiction film "Planet of the Apes" and a detective in another futuristic cult classic, 1973's "Soylent Green".
In later years Heston worked on successful television soap operas including "Dynasty" and its spinoff, "The Colbys."
The last decade of his life saw Heston often in the spotlight for his outspoken political views and his vociferous support and leadership of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
He achieved notoriety in 2000 when declaring at an NRA convention that his guns would have to be pried away "from my cold, dead hands."
NRA leader Wayne LaPierre said Sunday that with Heston's death America "had lost a great patriot."
Heston had hip replacement surgery in 1998 and survived prostate cancer that same year. In August 2002 he announced that he had Alzheimer's.
He is survived by two children, Fraser Clarke Heston and Holly Heston Rochell, and three grandchildren, Jack Alexander Heston, Ridley Rochell and Charlie Rochell.
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