Adventure Outdoors Magazine Summer 2015 | Page 110

SALUTE THE TROOPS A Look Back at the Life of Charlton Heston: C harlton Heston was and still is a monumental presence in the American film industry, starring in remarkable epics, such as, The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, and Planet of the Apes. But creating Hollywood classics wasn’t his only talent. Heston was also an excellent huntsman and fisherman – obsessed with the outdoors – and served in World War II as well. Heston held the title of President for the National Rifle Association and was actively involved in American politics, such as the Civil Rights movement, the Reagan campaign, and both Bush campaigns. Journey with us as we step back in time to relive the life of Charlton Heston, a man who not only set the bar high for Hollywood, but became a genuine legend within American history. An Outdoorsman Heston was, in fact, an avid outdoorsman. His acting career was his first love, but his true passion grew in nature and “the simple life.” Imagine, a small child alone in the woods. It sounds scary now, especially for those of us that have children, but this child isn’t your average seven year old. A small boy, skinny and lanky, he carries a fishing pole in one hand and a hunting knife in the other. He is not afraid of the wild; he consumes it with great fervor. For anyone that knows the story behind the star, that little boy was the young Charlton Heston. Born as John Charles Carter on October 4, 1923 in Wilmette, Illinois, but moving soon thereafter because of his fa108 Summer 2015 Adventure Outdoors Heston poses for a portrait shoot on April 20, 2000 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Lorenzo Agius/Contour by Getty Images) Credit: Lorenzo Agius / contributor ther’s job, Heston spent the early part of his childhood roaming the backwoods of Michigan. There, he explored countless untouched acres of forest, and passed time by fishing in the nearby lakes and hunting small game. He educated himself on outdoor trades by trial and error, and often acted out made-up scenes in the privacy of the foliage. To Heston, the woods became a sanctuary, full of activity and variety, with meaning behind every branch. He grew to love the wilderness, inspired by its raw potential, and spent more time in the woods than he did at home. Heston’s parents divorced when he was 10 years old, and his mother took him back to Illinois. But his passion for outdoor activities only grew stronger with age, and he spent much time without friends, alone in the woods, forming a bond between man and nature that is all but lost to most today. Heston’s mother remarried to Chester Heston, who became stepfather to the young boy and consequently gave him his last name. Heston took his mother’s maiden name, Charlton, and created the stage name, Charlton Heston, for his acting career. Still, he remained simply “Chuck” to close friends, and his wife, Lydia Clarke, called him “Charlie.”