I first encountered Charlton Heston on the Planet of the Apes. Then I came to know him as something more.
You know, and this is a personal reflection, I really admired an appreciated this man's commitment to his craft. As a child, I first saw him in Planet of the Apes, and then in "Soylent Green". Then followed "Omega Man" and the "Ten Commandments," "Ben Hur," among many others.
Now, given my age, 42, and my fairly limited appreciation of cinema and acting, I must say that I truly appreciated his appearance, however trivial and "cameo" in Wayne's World. He stole the show for me, amongst a cast of semi-professionals, his 2 minutes in this film really shined.
I will not forgive him the whole NRA thing, and would wish that this had never happened - and here, I will add, that his so-called interview with Michael Moore in "Bowling for Columbine" lacked the appropriate consideration that any discussion with an individual suffering with dementia or Alzheimer's might have otherwise measured and weighed - I still appreciate this man for his ability to act and portray human beings from many hundreds of years ago, and those of the future.
Rest in Peace, Charlton Heston.
Find a bio here:
Charlton Heston (IMDB)
And an obit from BBC here:
Ben Hur star Charlton Heston dies
Mind you, I am no fan of the politics of the man, but admire his ability as an actor to take me to places that I could hardly imagine.