The actor best known for his roles as Ben-Hur, Moses, or Michelangelo died Saturday at his Beverly Hills home, announced family spokesman Bill Powers, who refused to comment on the cause.

Heston was diagnosed, around six years ago, with neurological symptoms similar to the ones of Alzheimer’s disease.

"Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life. He was known for his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and resonating voice, and, of course, for the roles he played," Heston's family said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. "No one could ask for a fuller life than his. No man could have given more to his family, to his profession, and to his country."

In the period when Hollywood was issuing lots of historical and religious films, Heston proved to be the ideal actor to star in most of them. He appeared in more than 100 films during his acting career, which lasted more than 60 years, and he won a best actor Oscar in 1959, for interpreting Ben-Hur.

With an authoritative and confident character, the actor played the role of leader in the real life as well, serving as president of the Screen Actors Guild and chairman of the American Film Institute.

He started to be seen as a controversial figure after being elected president of the National Rifle Association in 1998, and appearing in several ads holding a rifle. He is known to have owned a collection of about 30 guns, of which he was very proud of, at his home in Beverly Hills, where he lived with his wife Lydia Clarke and their two children.

Heston made his debut as an actor in the 1940s, appearing in two films produced by a college classmate, David Bradley. He had the main role in “Peer Gynt” and Marc Antony in “Julius Caesar.”

He later gained fame impersonating Moses in “The Ten Commandments,” directed by Cecil B. De Mille. A string of important roles followed, such as Thomas Jefferson, Michelangelo, John the Baptist, Cardinal Richelieu, El Cid, Sherlock Holmes and Ben-Hur.

Actors Marlon Brando, Burt Lancaster and Rock Hudson, who had refused the role of Ben-Hur, probably regretted later they had not starred in the film that registered a huge success and won Heston an Oscar, making him one of the highest-paid film stars in Hollywood. The film won 11 Academy Awards, including those for best picture and best director.

His two children – a son, Fraser and a daughter, Holly Ann – both survive him, as well as his wife Lydia. His family said the funeral would be private and requested that people who wanted to send flowers should rather make donations, if they please, to the Motion Picture and Television Fund, 22212 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 300, Woodland Hills, CA 91364. Details can be found at www.mptvfund.org.