BrontëBlog: Charlton Heston. In Memoriam

American Hollywood legend, Charlton Heston, died yesterday. As reported by Associated Press:

Charlton Heston, who won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing "Ben-Hur" and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the '50s and '60s, has died. He was 84.

The actor died Saturday night at his home in Beverly Hills with his wife Lydia at his side, family spokesman Bill Powers said. (...)

Film producer Hal B. Wallis ("Casablanca") spotted Heston in a 1950 television production of "Wuthering Heights" and offered him a contract. (See Note below) (Bob Thomas)

Therefore, Charlton Heston is also present in the history of the Brontë adaptations as one of the few actors who has played both Rochester and Heathcliff:

Westinghouse Studio One: Jane Eyre

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
Writers: Sumner Locke Elliott (adaptation)
Original Air Date: 12 December 1949 (Season 2, Episode 14)

Episode Credited cast

Charlton Heston ... Edward Rochester
Mary Malone ... Jane Eyre (child)
Mary Sinclair... Jane Eyre

Picture Source: The Enthusiast's Guide to Jane Eyre Adaptations. More pictures here. EDIT: And a clip of the proposal scene here.

Westinghouse Studio One: Wuthering Heights

Directed: Paul Nickell
Writing credits: Lois Jacoby

Original Air Date: 30 October 1950 (Season 3, Episode 10)
Episode Cast (in alphabetical order)
Lloyd Bochner ... Edgar Linton
June Dayton
John Forsythe
Charlton Heston ... Heathcliff
Mary Sinclair
Richard Waring

Note: According to the New York Times, his Rochester performance was the key to Hollywood:

The door to Hollywood opened when the film producer Hal B. Wallis saw Mr. Heston’s performance as Rochester in a “Studio One” production of “Jane Eyre.” Wallis offered him a contract. (Robert Berkvist)