Biography of Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston, born as John Charles "Chuck" Carter on October 4 1923, was an American actor of film, theater, and television.

Heston is best known for playig heroic figures, such as Moses in The Ten Commandments, George Taylor in Planet of the Apes, and Judah Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur. He is also known for his roles in The Greatest Show on Earth and Touch of Evil.

In the 1950s and 1960s Charlton Heston became increasingly involved in the civil rights movement and political activism. He was one of the handful of Hollywood celebrities to openly speak against racism. Although initially a moderate Democrat (he supported John F. Kennedy), he later supported conservative and was president of the National Rifle Association for four terms from 1998 to 2003.

Charlton Heston died April 5, 2008 due to Alzheimer's disease. Upon his death, President George W. Bush stated, "He served his country during World War II, marched in the civil rights movement, led a labor union and vigorously defended Americans’ Second Amendment rights."

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