What's After the Movie
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston, born as John Charles Carter, was an American actor and political activist. Heston gained prominence for his leading roles in numerous Hollywood films, including biblical epics, science-fiction films, and action films. He carved a niche for himself by winning an Academy Award, securing several nominations for the Golden Globe Awards, and the Prime Time Emmy Awards. He was renowned for his performances in films like The Ten Commandments (1956) and Ben-Hur (1959), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Apart from acting, Heston was known for his off-screen activism. During the 1950s and early 1960s, he openly condemned racism and was a vocal supporter of the civil rights movement. In 1987, he left the Democratic Party and became a Republican, taking an active part in establishing a conservative political action committee and supporting Ronald Reagan. He also served as the five-term president of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and later announced that he was living with Alzheimer's Disease.
Heston ventured into a wide array of notable roles and made contributions to different film genres. Some of his remarkable works include The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), Touch of Evil (1958), El Cid (1961), Planet of the Apes (1968), and Antony and Cleopatra (1972). In the latter part of his career, he acted in films such as Mother Lode (1982), Tombstone (1993), True Lies (1994), and Hamlet (1996). His acting prowess and strong screen presence rendered him a versatile icon in the Hollywood industry. Despite his successful acting career, Heston held his ground by opposing divisive societal norms, thereby advocating for the rights of the marginalized while transitioning his political ideologies from being a liberal Democrat to a conservative Republican.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Charlton Heston, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Charlton Heston rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: John Charles Carter
Born: Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
Citizenship: United States
Birthday: October 4, 1923
Occupations: Actor, Activist
Years Active: 1941-2003
Children: 2
Spouses: Lydia Clarke
External Links and Streaming Options
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Awards and Nominations Received by Charlton Heston
Explore the awards, honors, and nominations Charlton Heston has earned across their acting career. From prestigious wins to critical acclaim, see how their talent has been recognized by the film industry and major award bodies.
Movies Featuring Charlton Heston
The Big Country
El Cid
Airport 1975
Earthquake
Touch of Evil
Midway
Major Dundee (re-release)
Planet of the Apes
Soylent Green
Ben-Hur
The Omega Man
Tombstone
Two-Minute Warning
The Greatest Show on Earth
The Last Hard Men
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
And the Oscar Goes To…
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
Spanish Western
The Madding Crowd
The Lost City of Cecil B. DeMille
I Am Richard Pryor
Ben Hur
Christmas in Hollywood
Greatest Heroes and Legends of The Bible: Joshua and the Battle of Jericho
Greatest Heroes and Legends of The Bible: David and Goliath
Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: Daniel and the Lion’s Den
Greatest Heroes and Legends of The Bible: The Garden of Eden
Greatest Heroes and Legends of The Bible: Samson and Delilah
Greatest Heroes and Legends of The Bible: Jonah and the Whale
My Father
AFI: 100 Years… 100 Movies… 10th Anniversary Edition
Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic
Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema
Solar Crisis
The Little Kidnappers
Sam Peckinpah’s West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade
The Crucifer of Blood
The Mountain Men
The Awakening
Treasure Island
Almost an Angel
Nairobi Affair
With Orson Welles: Stories from a Life in Film
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Proud Men
A Man for All Seasons
Chiefs
Directed by William Wyler
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal
Yul Brynner, the Magnificent
The Call of the Wild
The Mystery of the Sphinx
Skyjacked
Will Penny
The Pigeon That Took Rome
A Century of Cinema
Gray Lady Down
Major Dundee
The Agony and the Ecstasy
Texas
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Jane Eyre
Antony and Cleopatra
Julius Caesar
While I Run This Race
The Prince and the Pauper
Arrowhead
The Dark Mist
Uncertain Verification
Diamond Head
Behind the Planet of the Apes
Ruby Gentry
Rowan & Martin at the Movies
Alaska
Three Lives
Forever Hollywood
The Savage
Julius Caesar
The Far Horizons
The War Lord
Pony Express
The Private War of Major Benson
Bad for Each Other
Dark City
The Avenging Angel
The Wreck of the Mary Deare
Shirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her Heels
The Ten Commandments
Peer Gynt
The President’s Lady
The Naked Jungle
Number One
Counterpoint
Khartoum
Secret of the Incas
The Buccaneer
Three Violent People
Gideon
The Four Musketeers
Stars of Cabaret
Alaska: Spirit of the Wild
Lucy Gallant
Planet of the Apes: A Milestone of Science Fiction
Forbidden Area
Fun in the Big Country
55 Days at Peking
Noël
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line
A Look at the World of ‘Soylent Green’
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Charlton Heston, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
2019
I Am Richard Pryor
Self - Actor (archive footage)
Sword-and-Sandal: The Story of the Period Epic
Self - Actor (archive footage)
2014
And the Oscar Goes To…
Self (archive footage)
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
Self - Actor (archive footage)
2003
Ben Hur
Ben Hur (voice)
Christmas in Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
Greatest Heroes and Legends of The Bible: Joshua and the Battle of Jericho
Self - Host
Greatest Heroes and Legends of The Bible: David and Goliath
Self - Host
Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible: Daniel and the Lion’s Den
Self - Host
Greatest Heroes and Legends of The Bible: The Garden of Eden
Self - Host
Greatest Heroes and Legends of The Bible: Samson and Delilah
Self - Host
Greatest Heroes and Legends of The Bible: Jonah and the Whale
Self - Host
My Father
Josef Mengele
1998
Behind the Planet of the Apes
Self - 'Taylor'
Gideon
Addison Sinclair
Alaska: Spirit of the Wild
Narrator (voice)
1990
Solar Crisis
Adm. "Skeet" Kelso
The Little Kidnappers
James MacKenzie
Treasure Island
Long John Silver
Almost an Angel
God
With Orson Welles: Stories from a Life in Film
Self
1972
The Call of the Wild
John Thornton
Skyjacked
Capt. Henry 'Hank' O'Hara
Antony and Cleopatra
Marc Antony
1965
Major Dundee
Major Amos Charles Dundee
The Agony and the Ecstasy
Michelangelo
The Greatest Story Ever Told
John the Baptist
Uncertain Verification
(archive footage)
The War Lord
Chrysagon
1962
The Pigeon That Took Rome
Captain Paul MacDougall / Benny the Snatch / Narrator
Diamond Head
Richard 'King' Howland
1956
The Ten Commandments
Moses
Three Violent People
Capt. Colt Saunders
Stars of Cabaret
Self (archive footage)
Forbidden Area
Col. Jesse Price
1955
The Far Horizons
Lt. William Clark
The Private War of Major Benson
Maj. Bernard R. 'Barney' Benson
Lucy Gallant
Casey Cole
1953
Arrowhead
Ed Bannon
Three Lives
Self
Pony Express
Captain William Frank 'Buffalo Bill' Cody
Bad for Each Other
Dr. Tom Owen
The President’s Lady
Andrew Jackson
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