The legendary Charlton Heston, whose iconic acting roles defined an era of cinema, has passed away at the age of 84.

"If Hollywood had a Mt. Rushmore," said publicist Michael Levine, who represented Heston for 20 years, "Heston's face would be on it," Heston's epic films include "The Ten Commandments," "El Cid," "55 Days at Peking," "Planet of the Apes," "Soylent Green," and 11 Academy Award winning "Ben-Hur," for which he won the 1959 best actor Oscar. Heston proudly cited the host of historical figures he portrayed, including Andrew Jackson, Moses, El Cid, John the Baptist, Michelangelo, General Gordon, Marc Antony, Cardinal Richelieu, Henry VIII and, of course, Ben-Hur.

The actor later transitioned into an industry and political leader. He served as president of the Screen Actors Guild and chairman of the American Film Institute, marched in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and served as president of the National Rifle Association. In 2003, Heston was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Happily, we are left with a lengthy legacy of Heston's on-screen work. A mandatory viewing of Ben-Hur is as central to my Easter celebration as Sunday mass and ham at dinner. If you've not yet enlightened yourself to Heston's brilliant work, hours (and hours) of thrilling joy await!