The death of Charlton Heston represents a great loss for American art. It's possible to imagine other fine actors of his era playing the roles Heston made unforgettable, but it's not possible to imagine the other actors making them unforgettable. From Moses to Judah Ben-Hur to George Taylor and all the rest before and after, Heston uniquely combined physical grace, a superb physique, that resonant voice, a commanding presence, and a great actor's total commitment to the part.