- Missed the start of his presentation at The 44th Annual Academy Awards (1972), because of a flat tire on the Santa Monica freeway. Clint Eastwood stood in for him, and before Eastwood finished the speech that Heston was due to give, Heston arrived, to some audience laughter and enjoyment.
- When Heston asked director James Cameron why he wanted him to play Spencer Trilby in True Lies (1994), Cameron replied "I need someone who can plausibly intimidate Arnold Schwarzenegger.".
- Although he and Kirk Douglas differed greatly on politics (Douglas was a very liberal Democrat and Heston a very conservative Republican), Heston and Douglas were very close friends. Douglas spoke highly of their friendship; so highly, in fact, that after a viewing of the film Bowling for Columbine (2002) (and in particular the scene where Heston is grilled on his involvement in the NRA and asked to apologize for murder as a member of the NRA) Douglas said he would never forgive Michael Moore, the film's director and the man who conducted the interview) for the way he treated Heston.
- When he met Toshirô Mifune around 1960, he was extremely taken with the Japanese star and claimed that if Mifune spoke English "he could be the greatest star in the world". The two actors exchanged Christmas cards since their meeting until Mifune's death.
- Said that Planet of the Apes (1968) was the most physically demanding film he had ever done.
- Participated in the March on Washington for Civil Rights on 28 August 1963, along with Burt Lancaster, Marlon Brando, Sidney Poitier, Bob Dylan and Harry Belafonte.
- Volunteered his time and effort to the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, and even marched alongside the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on a number of occasions, including the 1963 March on Washington. In the original (uncut) version of King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1969), he was narrator.
- He was chosen to portray Moses in The Ten Commandments (1956) by Cecil B. DeMille because he bore an uncanny resemblance to the statue of Moses carved by Michelangelo.
- Along with Tony Curtis, Heston admitted to voting for Russell Crowe to win the Best Actor Oscar, saying before the ceremony, "I hope he gets it. He's very good.". (2001)
- Was sick with the flu during filming of Planet of the Apes (1968). The producers decided to have him act through his illness, even though it was physically grueling, because they felt the hoarse sound of his voice added something to the character. Heston recounted in a diary he kept during filming that he "felt like Hell" during the filming of the scene where his character was forcefully separated from Nova (Linda Harrison), made worse by the impact of the fire hose used on him.
- Initially turned down the role of Steve Leech in The Big Country (1958) because he didn't think the role was huge enough after the success he had with The Ten Commandments (1956), but his agent convinced him to take the role on the grounds that it would be worth it for his career to work with both Gregory Peck, who was still a bigger star than Heston at the time, and director William Wyler. This association led to Heston being cast in Wyler's next film, as the title character in Ben-Hur (1959), for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor.
- He turned down the role of General Joseph W. Stilwell in Steven Spielberg's comedy 1941 (1979) because he felt the film was an insult to World War II veterans.
- Very popular in Japan, where even his less successful films were generally well received, because his screen persona embodied the qualities that the Japanese had admired in their Samurai warriors.
- He wore a hairpiece in every movie from Skyjacked (1972) onwards.
- The actors he admired the most were Gary Cooper, Henry Fonda, Clark Gable, Cary Grant and James Stewart.
- Heston's Hollywood mansion is filled with memorabilia from his career. He and his wife have resided in the same house near Los Angeles' Mulholland Drive for more than forty years. Built by the actor's father after Heston won the Academy Award for best actor in Ben-Hur (1959), the postmodern style home - inside and out - is filled with the memorabilia. Sitting on a table in the backyard is the figure of a Roman, whip in hand, lashing vigorously at four straining horses harnessed to a chariot. Mounted on the entrance of his study are the two great brass ring knockers from the movie set's House of Hur. Hung above the fireplace is a painting of a lumbering Conestoga wagon and, nearby, a pencil sketch of friend Sir Laurence Olivier portraying King Lear. From most windows sparkle views of canyons. In the home's central hallway hang twenty paintings of Heston in signature roles: Ben-Hur, Moses, Richelieu, Michelangelo, the Planet of the Apes (1968) marooned astronaut Commander Taylor, the steel-willed Major Dundee, Soylent Green (1973) detective Thorn, Andrew Jackson in The President's Lady (1953), tough ranch foreman Steve Leech riding through The Big Country (1958), and cattle poke Will Penny (1967) from Heston's favorite film.
- Though often portrayed as an ultra-conservative, Heston wrote in his autobiography "In the Arena" (1995) that he was opposed to the McCarthy witch hunts of the 1950s, was against the Vietnam War and thought President Richard Nixon was bad for America.
- Had a fondness for drawing and sketching, and often sketched the cast and crew of his films whenever he had the chance to do so. His sketches were later published in the book "Charlton Heston's Hollywood: 50 Years in American Film".
- His funeral was held a week after his death on 12 April 2008 in a ceremony which was attended by 250 people including former First Lady Nancy Reagan, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Olivia de Havilland, Keith Carradine, Pat Boone, Tom Selleck, Oliver Stone and Rob Reiner.
- His professional name of Charlton Heston came from a combination of his mother's maiden name (Lila Charlton) and his stepfather's last name (Chester Heston).
- Broke his nose in high school playing football. He later commented that this was ultimately to his advantage as an actor because this gave him "the profile of an Eagle".
- A frail-looking Heston was presented with a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, at the White House by George W. Bush. (July 2003)
- After their son was born, they decided to adopt their next child so that they could be sure it would be a girl. Heston and his wife felt that one son and one daughter made the perfect family.
- He was the original choice to star in Alexander the Great (1956), but declined so he could play Moses in The Ten Commandments (1956). The role eventually went to Richard Burton.
- Professed great respect and admiration for the late actor Gregory Peck, despite their opposing political ideals.
- While they were starring in a play together in 1960, Laurence Olivier told Heston that he had the potential to become the greatest American actor of the century. When the play received unfavorable notices, Heston said, "I guess you learn to forget bad notices?", to which Olivier replied, "What's more important, laddie, and much harder -- learn to forget good notices.".
- After his starring role in the original version of Planet of the Apes (1968), he had an uncredited cameo in the remake Planet of the Apes (2001), as General Thade's dying father.
- Although Heston was a lifelong non-smoker, he did hold a pipe in some early publicity photographs because both Clark Gable and Cary Grant smoked pipes.
- Unlike many of his contemporaries, Heston continued to act on the stage. He appeared in "Long Day's Journey Into Night" opposite Deborah Kerr, "Macbeth" opposite Vanessa Redgrave and "The Caine Mutiny" with Ben Cross. His final stage role was opposite his wife Lydia Clarke in "Love Letters" at the Haymarket Theatre in London in the summer of 1999.
- Requested cremation in his will, explaining that after a lifetime of performing and wearing makeup he didn't want his body presented after his death.
- Accepted the role in Ben-Hur (1959) after Burt Lancaster turned down the role.
- During the Waco standoff in 1993, Heston was hired by the FBI to provide the voice of God when talking to David Koresh in an attempt to reason with him. The plan was never used.
- Was asked by some Democrats to run for the California State Senate in 1969, but declined because he wanted to continue acting.
- Did a great deal of research on the historical Cardinal Richelieu for his appearance in The Three Musketeers (1973)/The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge (1974). Even though the character is portrayed as an antagonist, Heston gained a great deal of respect for the man's real accomplishments on behalf of France. He came across a quote attributed to Richelieu: "I have no enemies, France has enemies." He liked the line so much that he insisted it be worked into the films somewhere, and he ultimately got his wish. Though slightly modified ("I have no enemies, only enemies of France."), the line appears in the second film, in the scene where Richelieu offers d'Artagnan the opportunity to be one of his soldiers.
- Heston was a popular actor in Greece, where his name was written as "Charlton Easton" on account of "Heston" having scatological connotations in the Greek language.
- Was an avid runner, swimmer and tennis player in his youth.
- He turned down an offer to co-star with Marilyn Monroe in Let's Make Love (1960) in order to be directed in a play by Sir Laurence Olivier, whom he greatly admired.
- Cited actor Gary Cooper as a childhood role model. Heston starred opposite Cooper in The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959). Heston commended Cooper for being able to perform his own stunts, such as being under water for long periods of time, despite being in poor health and getting older.
- While studying acting early in his career, he made ends meet by posing as a model in New York at The Art Students League, across from Carnegie Hall. The lure to Hollywood and a contract soon ended his modeling days.
- Has stated that he sees no contradiction with his work as a Civil Rights activist in the 1960s and his advocacy for gun ownership rights in the 1990s, insisting that he is simply promoting "freedom in the truest sense".
- Was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1966-1971.
- A World War II U.S. Army veteran, he visited troops fighting during the Vietnam War in 1967. In fact, in one camp in South Vietnam's delta area, he was "initiated" into the GIs on-base club, by having to receive a kiss on the ear.
- Originally a Democrat who campaigned for Presidential candidates Adlai Stevenson and John F. Kennedy, he gradually switched to becoming a conservative Republican during the 1960s.
- On 18 June 1968, Heston appeared on The Joey Bishop Show (1967) and, along with Gregory Peck, James Stewart and Kirk Douglas, called for gun controls following the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Ironically, thirty years later, Heston was elected President of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and campaigned against gun control.
- He defended some of his less successful films in the mid-1960s, arguing that he had already made several million dollars and therefore wanted to concentrate on projects which interested him personally.
- Attended the second inauguration of Ronald Reagan as President of the United States of America, along with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Ray Charles (20 January 1985).
- John Wayne offered Heston the role of Jim Bowie in The Alamo (1960), but he declined on account of the political implications of the film.
- He appeared with Sir Christopher Lee in four films: Julius Caesar (1970), The Three Musketeers (1973), The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge (1974) and Treasure Island (1990).
- Lord Laurence Olivier was so impressed by Heston's stage skills that he commented that Heston had a future on the stage.
- Cited not doing a Hispanic accent for his Mexican narcotics officer Miguel 'Mike' Vargas in the film noir Touch of Evil (1958) as one of the biggest mistakes he ever made as an actor.
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