Charlton Heston, the legendary actor who brought Moses and Ben-Hur to life on the big screen, wasn’t just a Hollywood star. He was a devoted family man, too. His first child, Fraser Heston, was born right as Charlton was getting ready to star in the epic The Ten Commandments. “The very first telegram my mom received when I was born was from Cecil B. DeMille, the film’s director,” Fraser exclusively shares with Closer. “It just said, ‘Congratulations, he’s got the part.’”
At just three months old, Fraser played baby Moses, the infant pulled from the Nile River in that iconic scene. The movie, which celebrated its 65th anniversary with a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release on March 30, marked the first time father and son worked together. And it wouldn’t be their last collaboration. “Dad loved spending time with his family,” Fraser fondly remembers. “He was the epitome of a family man, always putting us first.”
An Academy Award winner for his unforgettable role in Ben-Hur, Charlton led a life as rich off-screen as it was on. “He marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington,” Fraser highlights. “His political journey covered a wide spectrum, from liberal to conservative causes, including his role as the president of the NRA.” But above everything else, Charlton’s life revolved around his love for his wife, Lydia, and their children, Fraser, now 66, and Holly, 59. “Family was his ultimate priority,” Fraser says with a smile. “There’s no doubt about that.”
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Charlton always knew he was destined for the stage. Growing up as a “quiet kid from Michigan,” Fraser describes his father’s early years. “He had a knack for pretending to be other people and found a way to make a living out of it.” After marrying Lydia, his college sweetheart, Charlton quickly carved out a name for himself in Hollywood. He landed roles in major films like 1952’s The Greatest Show on Earth and, of course, the monumental The Ten Commandments. “Dad would take me to movie sets,” Fraser reminisces. “He’d show me how the blood wasn’t real, or how the swords were rigged with springs—those little tricks that make movies magic.”
A Family Man in a Hollywood World
Work and Family: Striking a Balance
While Charlton’s career often took him away from home, Fraser insists, “We never felt like he was gone for too long.” The actor made sure his family remained a priority, even in the bustling world of Hollywood. “He knew the pitfalls of fame and made sure to warn us about them,” Fraser explains. Charlton once remarked, “Celebrity can eat away at your soul.” He advised Fraser against pursuing acting, saying, “Being an actor, especially as the child of a famous actor, is a tough road to navigate.”
When Charlton wasn’t working, he enjoyed sharing his passions with his family. “He was an avid tennis player,” Fraser recalls, “but he also loved sports cars.” The actor even taught his son how to drive his prized 454 Corvette, a cherished memory for Fraser. “He was funnier than most people realized,” Fraser adds. “He loved pulling practical jokes and clipping cartoons from the funny pages, as he called them, to share with us.”
