A science fiction community and weblog
Remembering Charlton Heston's science fiction career
Submitted by Capt. Xerox on April 6, 2008 - 9:53pm.
Charlton Heston may be forever identified with the numerous Biblical and historical epics that he starred in early on in his career, but science fiction fans will always remember him for the great performances he gave in several genre movies.
When I heard that he passed away this weekend, it got me thinking about some of those movies. Probably the most famous is his role as astronaut George Taylor from the movie Planet of the Apes. He reprised the role in the next sequel, Beneath the Planet of the Apes and played a surprise cameo in Tim Burton's disastrous "re-imagining" of the first movie.
Heston also starred in Soylent Green which was the movie adaptation of Harry Harrison's Make Room, Make Room and don't forget his turn in Omega Man which is based on Richard Matheson's I Am Legend.
In later years, Heston made a few other genre appearances, including episodes of SeaQuest DSV and the Outer Limits. He also had a small voice role in a forgettable 1989 movie called Call from Space and a stinker called Solar Crisis. I guess he needed the money.
Heston was a Hollywood original and he'll be missed.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
»
- Capt. Xerox's blog
- Login to post comments
Heston R.I.P.
Although it was a long time coming, this passing is pivotal milestone in that all the main players of Planet of the Apes have now passed on. A sad milestone of sorts.
He was a sometimes controversial, always complex man, but without him there would not have been a Planet of the Apess. He was that one crucial cog in the machinery of Hollywood that producer Jacobs needed to get the job greenlighted.
I watched Planet once again tonight. But I confess that it was with a slightly heavier heart.
~ Lazarus ~