Charleton Heston: RIP

I first learned about Charleton Heston's death via an article on gather this morning. I believe it was by Sheryl L. (excuse me if I've got the name wrong.)

I've never seen him as Moses and I never watched Planet of the Apes. When I think if Heston, I think of Heston as a right-wing activist. I did feel sorry for him and thought filmmaker Michael Moore overstepped the bounds of tasate when drilling him in "Bowling for Columbine."

My friend, a drama teacher who just so happens to hate all things right-wing, has told me before that Heston ranks probably in the top ten actors of all time. Today's talents like George Clooney or Brad Pitt, while talented, just can't command the presence that Heston could. I recently met someone who had a small role as a child in "The Ten Commandments." One of the questions asked by students was if she remembered much about working with Heston. She said when the cameras were rolling, he was Moses. He was all powerful and could literally be scary. Once the cameras stopped rolling, he instantly became gentle and kind. he always had kind words and encouragement for the young stars. She arrived for shoots in the afternoon. After learning once that she had to retake her spelling test, he would ask her everyday how spelling went that morning.

Something I did not know until watching CNN this morning was that Heston had marched many times with Martin Luther King. So, I guess he wasn't just all about the NRA. I also learned that he was very devoted to his wife. The two met in high school. He sent her flowers every year for her birthday. When he was diagnosed with Alzheimers, he asked a family member to take over that for him when he reached the point that he could no longer do it He even wrote out what to put on the cards.

RIP.