Author/makeup artist Michael F. Blake asked me to post this for him:

>> I met Heston several times. First time was at a small actors' seminar at the old AFI at Doheny Library. He was very business-like, thoughtful, encouraging and smart.

The next time I met him was at John Ford's funeral in 1973. Walking out of Blessed Sacrament Church, I was crying my eyes out at Ford's passing. Standing next to me was William Wyler & Heston, who towered over both of us. He had his aviator shades on, his lips were pressed tight and when I looked at him, tears running down my cheeks, he simply nodded at me, as if to say he understood. Wyler smiled, his eyes red-rimmed.

The last time I saw him was in 1987. I was subbing for my pal who did Entertainment Tonight while he was on vacation. They were doing clips with actors who won the Oscar for an upcoming Oscar special.

He came down, brought his Oscar. God was he tall. I told him he looked great and wouldn't need any makeup, except for a bit of powder. After powdering his face he looked at me and asked, "Am I lovely as ever?" I told him I did the best I could without Lon Bentley by my side. (Bentley was his long-time makeup artist and what Heston asked me was a favorite saying of his to makeup artists.) He chuckled and patted my shoulder, thanking me. During filming he would talk to the crew about his career, mainly about the chariot race in BEN-HUR. Everyone was in awe of the man and he knew it & did his damnedest to make them at ease.

Heston was a great actor. Watch him & Olivier in KHARTOUM. He was insightful, dedicated, studious and honest. Even in a bad film, he gave his best & 100%. One of my favorite films -- a guilty pleasure -- is THE MOUNTAIN MEN. Both he and Brian Keith captured what a mountain man was like.

Our profession -- and the world -- is a bit poorer with his passing, although the deadly disease that took him can no longer hold him in its grasp. It had been known in town over the past few weeks that the final curtain was close at hand. But it still hurts.

The thing I will remember most about him is when he left the Entertainment Tonight set, he went to every crew member, shook their hand and thanked them. Not many of his kind are left.

"Good night sweet prince and flights of Angels take thee to thy rest." <<