Actor and former National Rifle Association president Charlton Heston has died today at the age of 84. Heston played a number of historical figures in his life, from Andrew Jackson to Marc Antony, and of course his famous roles as Moses and Ben-Hur. Heston was also active in politics as a civil rights proponent, opposed McCarthyism, and supported various Republican candidates and causes. In later life, he served as president of the NRA from 2000 to 2003, and is well-known for saying that presidential candidate Al Gore would take his Second Amendment rights “from my cold, dead hands.” Heston is survived by his wife, Lydia and their two children, Fraser and Holly.