A friend of mine had the funniest line ever about Hestons passing. It's cold. It's cruel and it's tasteless. However, it's not undeserved either:
"Well I guess they can have his gun now." B --- ravenadal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Even though "Chuck" Heston in his later years became, as critic Tom > > Shales referred to him, "a bull moose," I was fond of many of his > performances, particulaly in two of my favorite movies: "Planet of > the Apes" and "Omega Man." > > ~rave! > > Original Story URL: > http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=736187 > > Heston left a dual legacy > Film stardom and his politics defined him > By DUANE DUDEK > Journal Sentinel film critic > Posted: April 6, 2008 > > > Duane Dudek > E-MAIL > > In his prime, Charlton Heston, who died Saturday at age 84, was a > handsome, square-jawed Hollywood leading man. And epics such as > "The > Ten Commandments" and "Ben-Hur," for which he won his only Oscar > for > best actor, helped turn him into an icon and a legend. > > In his later years, he befriended presidents and became better > known > for being outspoken on behalf of conservative causes - including > serving four terms as president of the National Rifle Association - > > than for his film roles. > > Ironically, one of his last film appearances was in "Bowling for > Columbine," Michael Moore's Oscar-winning 2002 documentary about > the > American gun culture. > > In the segment, Moore demands that an obviously frail Heston > apologize for holding rallies after gun tragedies. When a stooped > Heston hobbles out of the room, Moore pursues him, holding a > picture > of a victim of gun violence. > > Shortly before the film was released, Heston issued a statement in > which he announced he had a neurological disorder whose symptoms > are > consistent with Alzheimer's disease. > > On Sunday, possibly in a reflection of Heston's status as more a > political symbol than a pop-culture figure, many of the comments > issued to memorialize his life came from figures in politics. > > In a statement released by the White House, President George W. > Bush - > who in 2003 awarded Heston the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the > nation's highest civilian honor - called Heston "one of the most > successful actors in movie history and a strong advocate for > liberty." > > "He was a man of character and integrity, with a big heart," the > president's statement reads. > > Republican presidential candidate John McCain noted Heston's > involvement in the civil rights movement and his stand against gun > control. > > "In taking on epic and commanding roles, he showed himself to be > one > of our nation's most gifted actors, and his legacy will forever be > a > part of our cinema," McCain said in a statement. > > Former first lady Nancy Reagan said Sunday in a prepared statement > that she was heartbroken to hear of Heston's death. > > "I will never forget Chuck as a hero on the big screen in the roles > > he played, but more importantly I considered him a hero in life for > > the many times that he stepped up to support Ronnie in whatever he > was doing," she said. > > "America has lost a great patriot," The National Rifle Association > of > America's Wayne LaPierre said. > > Publicist Michael Levine, who represented Heston for about 20 > years, > said the actor's passing represented the end of an iconic era for > cinema. > > "If Hollywood had a Mount Rushmore, Heston's face would be on it," > Levine said. > > E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Associated Press contributed > > to this report. > > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
