Ο Τσάρλτον Ηστον [Charlton Heston], ήταν ένας από τους τελευταίους θρύλους του Χόλιγουντ, σπουδαίος ήθοποιός, αλλά και μφιλεγόμενη προσωπικότητα. Πέθανε χθες σε ηλικία 84 ετών στην κατοικία του στο Μπεβερλι Χιλς, ανακοίνωσε η οικογένειά του. Είχε τιμηθεί το 1959 με το Οσκαρ καλύτερου ηθοποιού για την ταινία "Μπεν Χουρ" και ο οποίος είχε υποδυθεί τον Μωυσή στην ταινία "Οι Δέκα Εντολές" του Σεσίλ Ντε Μιλ το 1956, έπασχε τα τελευταία χρόνια από τη νόσο του Αλτσχάιμερ. Στο πλευρό του βρισκόταν η σύζυγός του Λίντια Κλαρκ, επίσης ηθοποιός, με την οποία παντρεύτηκαν το 1944 και έζησαν μαζί 64 χρόνια.
Charlton Heston as Moses in The Ten Comandments
"Κανένας δεν θα μπορούσε να ζητήσει μια πιο γεμάτη ζωή από αυτήν. Κανένας δεν θα μπορούσε να δώσει περισσότερα στην οικογένειά του, στη δουλειά του, στην πατρίδα του. Οπως έλεγε και ο ίδιος: Εζησα μια υπέροχη ζωή. Εζησα αρκετά για δυο ανθρώπους", αναφέρει σε ανακοίνωσή της η οικογένειά του η οποία ευχαριστεί τους αγαπημένους φίλους, συναδέλφους και θαυμαστές του ηθοποιού για την αγάπη και τη στήριξή τους.
Associated Press
Charlton Heston posed with his Oscar statuette after winning the 1959 Academy Award for best actor for his portrayal of Ben-Hur.
Ωστόσο, ο πιο αμφιλεγόμενος ρόλος του Ηστον δεν ήταν κάποιος ρόλος σε ταινία, αλλά αυτός του προέδρου της Εθνικής Ενωσης Οπλοκατοχής, ενός πανίσχυρου λόμπι στις ΗΠΑ που προασπίζει τα δικαιώματα των κατόχων και κατασκευαστών όπλων.American Cinematheque
EPIC: Heston as Moses in Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 epic, "The Ten Commandments."
The Oscar winner played Moses and Michelangelo, then later became a darling of conservatism.
By Robert W. Welkos and Susan King, Special to Los Angeles Times, April 6, 2008
Charlton Heston, the Oscar-winning actor who achieved stardom playing larger-than-life figures including Moses, Michelangelo and Andrew Jackson and went on to become an unapologetic gun advocate and darling of conservative causes, has died. He was 84. Heston died Saturday at his Beverly Hills home, said family spokesman Bill Powers. In 2002, he had been diagnosed with symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer's disease.
With a booming baritone voice, the tall, ruggedly handsome actor delivered his signature role as the prophet Moses in Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 Biblical extravaganza "The Ten Commandments," raising a rod over his head as God miraculously parts the Red Sea. Heston won the Academy Award for best actor in another religious blockbuster in 1959's "Ben-Hur," racing four white horses at top speed in one of the cinema's legendary action sequences: the 15-minute chariot race in which his character, a proud and noble Jew, competes against his childhood Roman friend.
Heston stunned the entertainment world in August 2002 when he made a poignant and moving videotaped address announcing his illness. Late in life, Heston's stature as a political firebrand overshadowed his acting. He became demonized by gun-control advocates and liberal Hollywood when he became president of the National Rifle Assn. in 1998.
Wyatt Counts
Charlton Heston had been suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Heston answered his critics in a now-famous pose that mimicked Moses' parting of the Red Sea. But instead of a rod, Heston raised a flintlock over his head and challenged his detractors to pry the rifle "from my cold, dead hands."
Like the chariot race and the bearded prophet Moses, Heston will be best remembered for several indelible cinematic moments: playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with Orson Welles in the oil fields in "Touch of Evil," his rant at the end of "Planet of the Apes" when he sees the destruction of the Statue of Liberty, his discovery that "Soylent Green is people!" in the sci-fi hit "Soylent Green" and the dead Spanish hero on his steed in "El Cid."...
ΒΛΕΠΕ ΚΑΙ:
Ben Hur star Charlton Heston dies. The Independent, Sunday, 6 April 2008
Heston: a movie legend. The Independent, Sunday, 6 April 2008
Charlton Heston. Telegraph.co.uk, 07/04/2008
God, guns and glory. Charlton Heston was a great actor who played mighty men - from Moses to a spaceman in a loincloth. And he thought his movies could change the world. David Thomson, Tuesday April 8, 2008, The Guardian
Charlton Heston. Hollywood actor who played Ben-Hur, Michelangelo, El Cid, Moses, American presidents and God. Brian Baxter, Monday April 7, 2008, The GuardianRelated articles [The Guardian]
07.04.2008: Tributes paid to Oscar winner who was known for his larger-than-life roles
07.04.2008: Comment: A mighty figure with a booming, virile voice
07.04.2008: Obituary: Charlton Heston
Blog: Peter Bradshaw on Charlton Heston
Special report: Charlton Heston 1923-2008
Gallery: 'A god-like hero'
Special report: Charlton Heston
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