Charlton Heston
(A Keppler Associates, Inc. Exclusive Speaker)

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He is known by millions worldwide for his magnificent portrayals of remarkable men. As an actor, he has reached a level of recognition few have achieved and been accorded an acclaim few have received. A native of a small town in northern Michigan, Charlton Heston learned to amuse himself at an early age by acting out the stories that were read to him by his parents. By the time he was five, he knew he wanted to become an actor. He pursued his ambition throughout high school and then college, via an acting scholarship at Northwestern University, where his studies were cut short by two years overseas in World War II.

Home at last, he took his bride, Lydia, to New York to continue his acting career. He made his Broadway debut in Katherine Cornell's Antony and Cleopatra, performing a number of roles during the play's long and successful run. His performance caught the eye of directors in the then-new medium of television, and he became one of the first Broadway actors to achieve success on television, playing leads in Studio One and other live dramatic programs.

He first drew Hollywood's attention after playing Antony in David Bradley's widely acclaimed version of Julius Caesar. This performance convinced Cecil B. DeMille to sign him for The Greatest Show on Earth. The film went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture of the Year, and Heston was on his way.

Over the years, he has proven himself in a wide range of roles while earning a reputation as a specialist in historical epics, particularly for Ben-Hur (for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor), The Ten Commandments, and The Greatest Story Ever Told. In contrast, he also has portrayed contemporary characters on Dynasty and The Colbys, which were both popular prime-time television series.

Heston has always been active in live theatre. Over the years, he has appeared to rave reviews in The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, A Man For All Seasons, The Crucible, Macbeth, and A Long Day's Journey Into Night, Love Letters and other plays.

His autobiography, In the Arena, tells the story of a career that has spanned half a century, and a lifetime devoted to being the best possible, both as an actor and a man.

A conscientious citizen, Heston takes an active part in community and film industry affairs. He's made numerous trips overseas on behalf of the State Department and has visited troops in foreign countries. He was also president of the Screen Actors Guild for six terms (longer than anyone else has held the office) and Chairman of the American Film Institute. For these and other special services, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

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