Veteran Hollywood actor and champion of civil rights Charlton Heston died Saturday, April 5, 2008 at his home in Beverly Hills, California with his wife of 64 years Lydia by his side. As of this writing the exact cause of death had not been disclosed.

During World War II Heston served as a radio operator and gunner on a B-25 stationed in the Aleutian Islands with the Eleventh Air Force. He ended his service with the rank of Staff Sergeant. Heston made his name starring in such blockbuster films as ‘The Ten Commandments’ and ‘Ben-Hur,’ for which he won an Oscar. Later he made memorable science-fiction fare such as ‘Soylent Green,’ ‘Planet of the Apes,’ and ‘Omega Man’ which was recently remade into ‘I Am Legend’ starring Will Smith. From 1965 to 1971 Heston served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild.

Heston’s history of political and social activism began in the 1950s when he campaigned for Democratic Presidential hopeful Adlai Stevenson in 1956 and JFK four years later. He picketed a segregated Oklahoma movie theater showing one of his movies in 1961. He marched beside Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington D.C. in 1963 and stood near the civil rights leader during his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech.

From 1998 to 2003 Heston served as President of the National Rifle Association and claimed that the Clinton administration could take away his right to Keep and Bear Arms “from my cold, dead hands.” Heston worked tirelessly to promote the Second Amendment, earning the ire of many left-wingers, including many of those from Hollywood.

Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain said of Heston, “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.” Former first lady Nancy Reagan said, “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.” Heston’s family offered a statement in which they said, “No man could have given more to his family, to his profession, and to his country… If Hollywood had a Mount Rushmore Heston’s face would be on it.”

Heston’s legacy will forever stand as a witness to American freedom, duty, humility, and patriotism. We here at bloodredstate mourn his passing and extend to his family our condolences and best wishes for the future.