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Charlton Heston - the actor famous for his role in films such as 'Planet of the Apes', has died at the age of 84. The U.S. actor, seen here in Orson Welles' "Touch of Evil," was always in demand for his rugged good looks. During his early career - which encompassed epic roles in epic films, such as 'Ben-Hur' and 'The Ten Commandments', he was a civil-rights activist and campaigned for the Democrats. Later in life Heston swung sharply to the right, and became the gun-wielding president of America's National Rifle Association. He told his fellow gun enthusiasts they would only take his weapon "from his cold, dead hands". Heston told the world he was showing symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease in 2002. He is survived by his wife Lydia, to whom he was married for 64 years. They had two children, Fraser and Holly Ann. Benet Allen, Reuters