Charlton Heston has died

[The Straight Story]

Statement by the Family of Charlton Heston
Saturday April 5, 11:24 pm ET

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 5, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary actor, civil rights leader and political activist Charlton Heston passed away today, at the age of 84. He died at his home with Lydia, his wife of 64 years, at his side. Mr. Heston was loved by his two children, Fraser Clarke Heston and Holly Heston Rochell, and his three grandchildren, Jack Alexander Heston, Ridley Rochell and Charlie Rochell.

The Heston family issued the following statement:

"To his loving friends, colleagues and fans, we appreciate your heartfelt prayers and support. Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life. He was known for his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and resonating voice, and, of course, for the roles he played. Indeed, he committed himself to every role with passion, and pursued every cause with unmatched enthusiasm and integrity.

We knew him as an adoring husband, a kind and devoted father, and a gentle grandfather, with an infectious sense of humor. He served these far greater roles with tremendous faith, courage and dignity. He loved deeply, and he was deeply loved.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080405/clsa013.html?.v=11

[Aristus]

1. Did they take the gun?

Just asking...

[LeftyMom]

6. .

:rofl:

[quip]

7. "pry" the gun?

[RetroLounge]

14. My first thought...

:rofl:

RL

[Elidor]

16. Oh, man, DUzy!

:rofl:

[Fox Mulder]

21. I was just thinking the same thing.

[Swede]

2. RIP mr heston.

[ashling]

12. Damn, I wanted to be the first !

oh well:

Can we take his gun now?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

3. I for one won't miss the old fart

I'll say no more.

[supernova]

4. civil rights leader?

*scratching my head*

Condolences to his family; I know he was ill for a long time.

[Aristus]

9. Common mistake people make: The NRA is not a civil rights group.

It's a corporate lobbying group. They don't care about the Second Amendment; they don't care about school kids getting shot by the dozen in playgrounds across the country; they don't care about home safety and security; and they sure don't care about safe gun handling.

The only thing the NRA wants gun-owners to do is:


BUY MORE GUNS!!!!

[Crabby Appleton]

31. But Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) is

Heston lead the Art contingent in the 1963 March with Martin Luther King

http://marhew.tripod.com/hestfest/id3.html

A CIVIL HONOR: In New York City on January 15, Charlton Heston received the "2001 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Award" from the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), a leading U.S. civil rights organization. CORE chairman Roy Innis praised Heston: "He's been a civil rights fighter most of his career." Yoko Ono, a member of the Awards Committee, said: "I respect Mr. Heston for lending his name to the cause of racial equality." (Chuck led the Arts Contingent at the 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech...... ###Classic HESTON QUOTE: "We will march because we recognize the events of the summer of 1963 as among the most significant we have lived through; and we wish to be part of these events and these times, when promises made a century ago will finally be kept." ( March on Washington, August 28, 1963)

[Aristus]

42. What had he done for them lately?

:shrug:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

43. Nothing

He became more conservative as the years went by. The Charlton Heston of the 1950's was not the dried up, bitter crank that he eventually became.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. May he rest in peace. And my condolences to his family. n/t

[Radio_Lady]

29. Tuesday Afternoon, you are a benevolent person and despite Heston's political views,

I send his wife and family my deepest condolences.

Let's leave the ZINGERS for people in DU: P. That is one rowdy and inconsiderate place.

Peace,

Radio Lady

[Tuesday Afternoon]

38. I agree.

I don't think now is that time to debate his political ideologies.

Feels like a virtual funeral, in that I am seeing people (you) that I haven't seen in a while.
Funny how death brings the living together.

Good to see you Radio_Lady. :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Safe passage to him...

I admired his acting, but not his politics, esp. as head of the NRA...

Alzheimer's is a particularly bad way to die...

[liberaltrucker]

24. That it is, Peggy

My uncle recently passed away at 98 from "advanced dementia"-read Alzheimer's.

Fortunately for him, he didn't have a clue. I'll swallow cyanide before putting
my family through that. Family values, doncha know?

:hug:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

10. "God damn you all to hell!!!!"

Greatest movie line ever, delivered with perfection by Mr. Heston. May he rest in peace.

[Aristus]

11. I checked out the Wikipedia article on his life, and it hadn't been updated yet.

Just a second ago, I refreshed the page, and someone had edited it to reflect the news.

Damn, they're quick!

[Droopy]

13. R.I.P. Charlton

If there is an afterlife let me know so I can be prepared.

[Popol Vuh]

15. Get Your Filthy Paws Off Me You Damn Dirty Ape!

[Lil Missy]

17. Did they pry that gun from his cold dead hands?

I wish his family peace and condolences, nevertheless.

[applegrove]

46. My thoughts exactly. Both ideas expressed in your thread came immediately to mind.

[kath]

18. "civil rights leader"?!?!!

jeebus h. christ.

[Crabby Appleton]

33. Yes, Civil rights leader

see

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7633271&mesg_id=7633681

[Elidor]

19. The funny thing is...

He was a horrible actor, but I always enjoyed watching him. He was camp, in a curious way.

[Reverend_Smitty]

27. Ever see Airport 75?

That is camp personified...I have to admit it is one of my guilty pleasure movies

[Aristus]

44. He was good in some things, bad in others.

I have to admit, I really liked him when I was a kid. I still think his performance as Cardinal Richelieu in the Musketeer movies was masterful. Subtle, menacing, witty, no scenery-chewing. That, I think, was his best performance.

In his later years, though, where were all those Republicans who repeatedly shout: "Actors shouldn't get involved in politics"?

I mean, sheesh! Heston, Reagan, Sonny Bono, Fred Grandy, Fred Thompson. I agree with the Repukes; maybe actors SHOULDN'T get involved in politics. ;-)

[JVS]

20. And I was watching Planet of the Apes just last night!

[Brigid]

56. Deleted.

Wrong place.

[Initech]

22. That was our planet!!! Damn you all to hell!!!

[liberaltrucker]

23. Godspeed, sir!

I disagreed with your politics, but you gave me and mine uncounted hours
of entertainment. RIP, Mr Heston, you've earned it.

:cry:

[MrScorpio]

25. R.I.P., Moses

I may have disagreed with his politics, but I respected him as a great actor.

May he now find peace

[Forkboy]

26. I really want to insult the man terribly....

..but, he did help with civil rights, and even though he turned into a flaming ball of disgust, I can't bring myself to hate on him like I did to Reagan when that bastard died. Though Chuck showing up in Columbine right afterwards makes it tempting....

<Forkboy leaves the thread, biting his tongue.... >

[noel711]

28. It's sad that someone once with such talent and promise...

degenerates to such a degree they become a
caricature of themselves...

Was the early onset of Alseimers that clicked him into
the whole 'gun' timewarp?

Perhaps; I think about Reagan, and how he became
a shadow figure, an icon to the wrong kind of thinking....

And poor Heston...

[QMPMom]

30. Won't miss him at all.

Now, how long before Larry King has Nancy Reagan as a guest to talk about Heston and all she does is talk about "Ronnie" and how he was the saviour of the world?

[matcom]

32. His hands are now cold, dead

sorry. I hate to pry.

[Midlodemocrat]

34. Safe passage to him. Condolences to his family.

[sasquatch]

35. "SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!!"

:yoiks:

[Deja Q]

37. I've meant to netflix or buy that one...

I've heard it's a sci-fi classic.

[Deja Q]

36. Especially "Planet of the Apes", which for him had to have been humbling.

Up to that point, he played heroes and figures of grandeur. In "Apes", he played an doomed astronaut, humiliated at every turn, and struggling to survive it all.

We may not always agree with others' politics, but I think he was one heck of a human being when it counted the most (his family, and the wide range of roles he played, stating his beliefs...).

Definitely rest in peace.

[flvegan]

39. I'm sorry for those that loved him and cared for him.

I won't miss hearing his views and opinions on just about everything, but I wouldn't celebrate any persons death.

[BeachBaby]

41. Ditto that.....

I would never wish for somebody's demise necessarily, but after seeing his absolute disregard for the victims and community who had to deal with the tragedy of the Columbine massacre while he raises his rifle (or shotgun - can't remember) at the NRA convention in CO and exclaiming "From my cold, dead hands"....I can't say I'll miss him. JMHO.

But he was loved by his family and friends, and I know they must be hurting today - my sympathies go to them.

[terrya]

48. That's right.

I agree with you, for the most part.

There's one exception to you comment about celebrating someone's death...you better believe I'll be celebrating Fred Phelps' death. It will be partay time at terrya's house when that happens.

[flvegan]

49. Yeah, but

there are always a couple exceptions to every rule. I'll celebrate Phelps' death with you.

[LynneSin]

40. CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER???!!! For, um WHAT??!!!

GUNS? Yes because those who own guns have suffered so much in compared to what - Women? Minorities? Gays & Lesbians?

Pry that damn thing from his cold dead hands

Other than that my condolances to the family

[Chan790]

45. He was very active in CORE during the civil rights movement. n/m

[Shine]

47. I got my first name from the movie "El Cid"

Sophia Loren played El Cid's wife, "Chimene". Pronounced "Shi-mane". My mom was preggers when they saw the movie, they fell in love with the name and the rest is history. :D

I've never met anybody with the same name in my entire life. It's pretty cool to have such a unique name.

RIP Charleton. O8)

[Chovexani]

50. True story

Last night I'm making out with my girlfriend. Someone texts her that Charlton Heston died. She grumbles, throws the phone across the room, and we keep on making out.

It was fucking hilarious.

[Redstone]

51. And I'm not the least bit sad.

Redstone

[stuntcat]

52. everybody dies

everybody :headbang:

[mokawanis]

53. ain't afraid to say

he was a class-a prick and I am not bothered in the slightest by his passing.

[DinahMoeHum]

54. Show biz saying: you're only as good as your last performance. . .

and his gig with the guns sucked big time.

:evilfrown:

[av8rdave]

55. RIP Charlton

Condolences to his family. I may disagree with his politics, but that has nothing to do with the sadness his family is going through.

[Brigid]

57. Anyone else think . . .

there must be some sort of link between Alzheimer's and conservatism? First Reagan, then Heston, and some here on DU who have dealt with fami.y members with Alzhiemer's swear John McCain show early signs of it. What an awful way to go, even if I didn't like him. :(