Charlton Heston's cinematic career began in 1941 with Peer Gynt. He appeared in over 100 films but is most recognized by his roles in Julius Caeser, The Greatest Show on Earth, The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, and Planet of the Apes.

In 1944, Charlton Heston enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces where he served for two years as a B-25 radio operator/gunner.

Mr. Heston had an incredible presence both on screen and in person. His personal passion for social justice became public in 1961 when he marched for racial equality in Oklahoma. He would later march with Dr. King in 1963, well before it became socially acceptable in Hollywood.

1992 - Believing that freedom of expression should not be confined to the movies, Mr. Heston objected to a song by rapper, Ice-T, entitled, "Cop Killer." The production company, Time Warner, ignored protests by police officers around the country as the song was a huge financial success. Not willing to give up that easily, Mr. Heston read the lyrics of the offensive song, in its entirety, to Time Warner stockholders while attending a shareholders meeting. He then went on to read the lyrics to the media waiting outside.

Ice-T's record contract was terminated two months later.

Mr. Heston became an active member of the Second Amendment movement and was the President of the National Rifle Association from 1998 - 2003. It was during this time that anti-gun bills were being introduced and passed at an alarmingly high rate. There is no doubt that Mr. Heston's celebrity, presence, and eloquent manner of speaking greatly contributed to raising awareness about Second Amendment violations.

Being a public figure with an opinion has its price. Mr. Heston is routinely scorned in certain media outlets. His positions are misrepresented and he is made to look like a extremist wacko.

In reality, Mr. Heston was a great American who believed in equal rights, social justice, dignity, and liberty. It is his contributions that we must remember, not the vile comments of his detractors. It is his strength of character and willingness to act that we must use as our guide. We must not be disheartened by the negative views of the narrow-minded.

Mr. Heston represented the part of American culture that made the United States a powerful world leader. A culture that knows the difference between right and wrong. A culture that stands up for the weak against the powerful in the name of social justice. A culture that refuses to obey the authorities if it undermines our liberties.

Mr. Heston was a great American and will live on in our hearts.

Jennifer Freeman is Executive Director and co-founder of Liberty Belles, a grass-roots organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the Second Amendment.
http://www.libertybelles.org
jennifer@libertybelles.org

Charlton Heston marching for civil rights in 1961.

"I believe that we are again engaged in a great civil war, a cultural war that's about to hijack your birthright to think and say what lives in your heart. I'm sure you no longer trust the pulsing lifeblood of liberty inside you, the stuff that made this country rise from wilderness into the miracle that it is."

"I'll never be offered another film by Warner Brothers, or get a good review from Time magazine. But disobedience means you have to be willing to act, not just talk."

Excerpts from Mr. Heston's speech on the cultural war.

Statement by the family of Charlton Heston.