Born John Charlton Carter, on October 4, 1924, in Evanston, Illinois, the actor took up his stepfather's last name, Heston.
Heston's involvement with theatre began in high school after his family moved to Chicago, and starred in several plays.
It was around this time that he met Lydia Marie Clarke, a drama student, whom he married on March 17, 1944. After serving three years in the army in the 1940s, he returned to acting.
But it was television that introduced Heston to movies. He bagged a film contract thanks to his show, Jane Eyre.
In the picture: Charlton Heston and wife Lydia.
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