Charlton Heston's Grandson Jack Looks Like His Twin

Feb 25, 2022

Over the course of 60 years, Charlton Heston appeared in nearly 100 films. The legendary actor is known for playing Moses in the 1956 film "The Ten Commandments." Heston is also remembered for playing the title character in "Ben-Hur," for which he was nominated and won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Some of his other movies include "The Greatest Show on Earth," "The Big Country," "The Greatest Story Ever Told," and "Planet of the Apes." 

Heston was born John Charles Carter on October 4, 1923, in Wilmette, Illinois. He was called Charlton as a boy, but it is unclear when he officially changed his first name. It was Heston's grandmother's maiden name, and his mother changed her surname to Charlton when she needed to distance herself from her undesirable father as a child. After his parents divorced, the star's mother remarried to a man named Chester Heston and insisted her children change their names as well. Charlton always went by the nickname Chuck.

In 1944, the actor married a Northwestern University student named Lydia Marie Clarke. The same year, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces. He served for two years and achieved the rank of staff sergeant. In 1955, the couple had a son named Fraser Clarke Heston. He made his film debut playing the infant Moses in "The Ten Commandments" alongside his father. However, he found success later in life as a director, producer, and screenwriter. 

Fraser's son and Charlton's grandson, Jack Heston, followed in his family's footsteps and is pursuing a career in show business. Jack looks a lot like his grandfather and has the same passion for producing as his father. Read on to learn more about Charlton and his legacy.

Something about Charlton Heston that fans may not know about is his love for literature. He discussed how writing affects the filmmaking process and used Ernest Hemingway as an example. Charlton said:

"I understand well, of course, every writer - Ernest Hemingway for god sake hated "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and Hemingway is the greatest American writer of the century, I think. But, of course, you change it; it's a different medium. And writers are always pissed off about this. Well, they should be, but they're not the ones that make the film."

The star also spoke on his love for Shakespeare and how "King Lear" may not make a successful film. "Well, I've done, I'm sure, more Shakespeare than any other American actor on film, and I'm very proud of that. People keep talking to me about King Lear, which is just a brute to do, and I don't know if I'm going to do it. This would not be a film; this would be a play. But I do as much work in the theater as I do in a film, or almost as much," Charlton said.

Catherine Williamson, director of fine books and manuscripts and entertainment memorabilia at Bonhams Los Angeles, also reiterated how much Charlton loved Shakespeare when she had the chance to see his private collection. "You are more likely to find fine paintings, fine furniture, and jewelry in a celebrity estate," she said. "So it was unusual to find these early Shakespeare imprints. However, when you realize that Heston started his career as a Shakespearean actor and really always felt a connection to Shakespeare, and thought of himself first and foremost as a Shakespearean actor, then it does make sense."

In 2016, Charlton's son Fraser shared a fond memory of when his father was shooting "Ben-Hur." He said, "The best story is about the time when he was finishing training for the chariot races. He practiced chariot racing for two or three months before filming began. They actually sent us to Rome, we lived in a villa off of the Appia Antica. He would come home in his Chariot driving costume every day, bringing me a box of sand for my sandbox. He'd say this isn't just any sand, this is MGM sand."

Fraser continued, "One day when he finished his training, he went to Yakima Canutt, second-unit director and stunt coordinator, who staged the entire chariot race. He said 'Yak, I'm a little concerned. I've practiced driving, I can manage the four horses ok, but all the other men in the race are stuntmen and wranglers and famous rodeo cowboys, I don't think I can keep up with these guys.' Yak looked at him, tipped his hat back on his head and said 'Chuck, you just stay in the dang chariot, I can guarantee you're gonna win the dang race.'"

Fraser's son, Jack Heston, has decided to follow in his father's footsteps and work as a producer in Hollywood. In 2019, he produced a short film called "The Big Break." On Instagram, Jack said:" Had a blast releasing @thebigbreakmovie on @VICE! Huge thanks to @metrographnyc, @unitedtalentagency, and @casamigos for presenting our twisted love letter to LA."

Charlton passed away in 2008, but his legacy lives on with his family. 

Did you know about Charlton Heston's family? Do you think his grandson looks like him? Let us know, and feel free to pass this along to your friends and family.