| − | '''Charlton Heston''' (b. October 4, 1923, Evanston, Illinois - d. April 5, 2008) was a famous [[Hollywood]] actor known for playing larger than life roles including [[Moses]], [[Michaelangelo]], [[Marc Antony]], [[John the Baptist]], and [[Andrew Jackson]] and, most of all, his [[Academy Award]]-winning performance in the [[Christian]] tale of ''Ben Hur''. Later in life he channeled his passion for the [[Second Amendment]] of the [[Constitution]] and became an ardent supporter of the [[National Rifle Association]], even serving as its president from 1998 to 2001. | + | '''Charlton Heston''' (b. October 4, 1923, Evanston, Illinois - d. April 5, 2008) was a famous [[Hollywood]] actor known for playing larger than life roles including [[Moses]], [[Michaelangelo]], [[Marc Antony]], [[John the Baptist]], and [[Andrew Jackson]] and, most of all, his [[Academy Award]]-winning performance in the [[Christian]] tale of ''[[Ben Hur]]''. Later in life he channeled his passion for the [[Second Amendment]] of the [[Constitution]] and became an ardent supporter of the [[National Rifle Association]], even serving as its president from 1998 to 2001. Heston was outspoken in debunking an attempt to put a [[homosexual]] spin on the conflict portrayed in the movie ''Ben Hur''. |
| | He was born John Charlton Carter in Evanston, Illinois. Following his parents' divorce and his mother's subsequent marriage to a Mr. Heston, Charlton's surname was changed. He studied at [[Northwestern University]] for two years and then fought in [[World War II]], serving in the [[United States Army Air Forces]] as a [[B-25 Mitchell]] aerial gunner assigned to the 77th Bombardment Squadron. | | He was born John Charlton Carter in Evanston, Illinois. Following his parents' divorce and his mother's subsequent marriage to a Mr. Heston, Charlton's surname was changed. He studied at [[Northwestern University]] for two years and then fought in [[World War II]], serving in the [[United States Army Air Forces]] as a [[B-25 Mitchell]] aerial gunner assigned to the 77th Bombardment Squadron. |