Charlton Heston's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) The Colbys Jason Colby The Merv Griffin Show Charlton He… AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies Charlton He… The Colgate Comedy Hour Charlton He… The $64,000 Question Charlton He… F.D.R. Voice of Fr…

Main Movie Roles

BIOGRAPHY:

With features chiseled in stone, who else but Charlton Heston could you picture as Michelangelo, as Ben-Hur, as Moses? Heston's movie career took off with The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) and reached light speed with Ben-Hur (1959). Although he has played a pantheon of larger-than-life roles, he usually prefers to talk about the day-to-day daily grind of the movie business, and especially credits the writers and directors he has worked for much of his success.


TRIVIA:

• He played three roles after they had been turned down by 'Burt Lancaster' (qv). In 1958 the producers of _Ben-Hur (1959)_ (qv) offered Lancaster $1 million to play the title role in their epic, but he turned it down because, as an atheist, he did not want to help promote Christianity. Lancaster also said he disagreed with the "violent morals" of the story. Three years later, in 1961 Lancaster announced his intention to produce a biopic of Michelangelo, in which he would play the title role and show the truth about the painter's homosexuality. However, he was forced to shelve this project due to the five-month filming schedule on 'Luchino Visconti' (qv)'s masterpiece _Il gattopardo (1963)_ (qv). Heston starred as Michelangelo in _The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)_ (qv) and even in his autobiography thirty years later was still denying that the painter had been gay, despite all evidence to the contrary. Lancaster also turned down the role of General Gordon in _Khartoum (1966)_ (qv).
• Was considered for the role of "Police Chief Brody" in _Jaws (1975)_ (qv), but both he and 'Oliver Reed (I)' (qv) turned it down. The part eventually went to 'Roy Scheider' (qv).
• In his youth he used an iron bar attached to a wall to do pull ups and chin ups in order to develop his biceps and triceps.
• Had a hip replacement in 1996.
• Prior to starring in _The Omega Man (1971)_ (qv), a remake of 'Vincent Price (I)' (qv)'s film _The Last Man on Earth (1964)_ (qv), Heston and Price appeared together in 'Cecil B. DeMille' (qv)'s _The Ten Commandments (1956)_ (qv).
• Co-chairman of the American Air Museum in Britain.
• In the animated television show _"Family Guy" (1999)_ (qv), Heston is accidentally shot by character Joe Swanson. Joe is horrified and apologizes profusely. As he collapses, Heston replies "That's OK son - it's your right as an American citizen!".
• After his starring role in the 1968 version of _Planet of the Apes (1968)_ (qv), he had an uncredited cameo in the 2001 remake, _Planet of the Apes (2001)_ (qv), as Gen. Thade's dying father.