Most famous for playing Moses in The Ten Commandments, Charleton Heston had a face that he himself proclaimed belonged “in another century.” Heston attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois on a full scholarship to the School of Acting. His beloved wife, Lydia, also attended the Northwestern School of Acting. They both worked on television and on the stage, but on film is where Heston found his true calling.
The directors in Hollywood cast him in the role after role portraying times long past and created cinematic masterpieces. He was commanding in his role in movies, such as Antony and Cleopatra (1947), Ben Hur (1959), and Planet of the Apes (1968). Heston won an Oscar for Ben Hur. In The Ten Commandments, he not only played Moses but provided the voice of God. As well, Fraser, his son, who was only three months old, played baby Moses in a basket floating down the Nile.
William S. Beckett was hired by the Hestons to design the home of their dreams in the neighborhood of Coldwater Canyon in Beverly Hills, California in 1959. They were very hands-on during construction and were always taken aback at the views from the home site.
Heston is gone now, but the home he and his beloved wife, Lydia, lived in for 56 years is on the market for $12.249MM. This 9,667-square-foot, 5 bedrooms, 6 bathroom home sits on 2.9 gorgeous acres on a knoll.
This is the living room with various sitting areas and wooden coffee tables illuminated by the large glass windows at the far end. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This other view of the living room shows a set of three sofas at the far end on a section that is slightly elevated than the rest of the living room. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The dining room has a large black rectangular dining table surrounded by black leather chairs on a dark hardwood flooring. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The bedroom has a beige floor that pair well with the beige walls and ceiling. These make the white bed stand out along with gray stone panel that houses the fireplace. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the library with large wooden bookshelves lining the walls adorned with glass windows above by the white ceiling. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a look at the large library from the vantage of the curved staircase leading to the home office. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the home office with tall glass walls and a stone wall on one side. The wooden desk at the far end stands out against the dark flooring. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the artist’s studio as seen from the staircase. You can see here the light hardwood flooring, white walls and white ceiling complemented by the large glass walls that bring in natural lighting. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a look at the tall ceilings and bright white walls of the artist’s studio that pair well with the hardwood flooring. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This side of the large artist’s studio shows the small and bright kitchen with an L-shaped peninsula. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the professional-size tennis court with a green floor to make the white lines stand out. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This angle of the tennis court shows the surrounding shrub hedges and tall trees. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the balcony overlooking the tennis court fitted with a sitting area under the shade of tall trees. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The swimming has a smaller spa pool on the side that is slightly elevated over the pool. You can also see here the concrete walkways surrounding the area. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a close look at the backyard swimming pool adorned with tall trees that bring in a cool shade to the large area. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is an other angle of the back of the house showcasing the beige exterior walls and glass walls adorned with creeping plants and shrubs. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This side of the pool has an outdoor dining area shaded by tall trees. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is the back of the house showcasing the concrete set of steps leading from the glass wall of the house to the poolside area. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is a look at the house exteriors from the vantage point of the balcony. You can see here the large glass walls and black frames paired with the earthy tone of the roof. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is an aerial view of the property showing the earthy roof tone that makes it stand out against the tall trees. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
You walk into a spacious, open, two-level living area with a great variety of seating, cherry wood coffee tables, and a piano, with hues of white with gold and blue. There is a formal dining room with a long, large, black dining room table, black leather straight-back chairs, and a glass wall facing outside. There is a marble bar. The primary bedroom suite is decorated in tones of beige with dual bath areas and huge walk-in closets. A greystone panel houses the fireplace.
Marvel at the two-story library with huge bookshelves that line the walls and glass windows above, next to the ceiling. There is a rounded staircase up to the second story, which is an office overlooking the library. The inner wall is stone, while the outer walls are glass. Sit at the maple wood desk or in the blue chaise lounge. Work or relax in the huge, three-story artist’s studio accessed via an elevator, which contains a screening room, bedroom, bathroom, and observation deck. The walls are white with light hardwood flooring and trim and glass outer walls.
Outside, a spa pool sits to the side, elevated slightly over the swimming pool, which has a small dining area. Exercise on a pro-size tennis court with shrubs and tall trees that shade the balcony above. Cook on the built-in barbecue. Relax on the black deck that encircles part of the house.
Heston’s home is listed by Nourmand and Associates in Beverly Hills.
Heston was awarded the Presidental Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush for his great films and political contributions.
Photo credit: Color photos, Jeff Elson Black, black and white photos – no photographer on file
