Charlton Heston R.I.P. (April 5, 2008)

The day Mr. Heston died my brother John called me from Baltimore. My brother John and I met Mr. Heston at a book signing in DC a number of years ago. We were told by the store owners, “Just get your books signed, no talking!” Anyway, he came early and sat at a small table waiting for visitors. Guess what? The store manager had made a mistake with the date for the newspaper announcement. Nobody showed up and there was no line! Mr. Heston called us over, pulled out a few folding chairs and invited us to sit with him. The manager was ticked but only grimaced. We had the great actor to ourselves for about half-an-hour. We talked about a number of things, especially the old Hollywood and how things had changed. He signed a pile of books and the pictures we had brought. He said that he never charged people for autographs and that such was a duty to the people who counted themselves your fans and kept you employed. When the word got around town who was there people started to show up and we said our goodbyes.

He is remembered alternately for his religious films and his cult science fiction. That makes him a very special man to a wide range of fandom. May he rest in peace. He was a man who tried to be moral and who believed in Jesus Christ as Lord. That is pretty good in my book… and he kept his gunpowder dry!

• BEN HUR CARTOON (2003)
• A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (1988)
• THE AGONY & THE ECSTASY (1965)
• THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965)
• BEN HUR (1959)
• THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)