Behind the Scenes Photos of Charlton Heston in Wardrobe Tests for “Ben Hur” (1959)

Charlton Heston’s portrayal of Judah Ben-Hur in the 1959 epic film Ben-Hur is one of his most iconic roles. Directed by William Wyler, the movie is renowned for its grand scale, dramatic storytelling, and famous action sequences, especially the legendary chariot race.

Several actors were offered the role of Judah Ben-Hur before it was accepted by Charlton Heston. Burt Lancaster stated he turned down the role because he found the script boring and belittling to Christianity. Paul Newman turned it down because he said he didn’t have the legs to wear a tunic. Marlon Brando, Rock Hudson, Geoffrey Horne, and Leslie Nielsen were also offered the role, as were a number of muscular, handsome Italian actors (many of whom did not speak English). Kirk Douglas was interested in the role, but was turned down in favor of Heston, who was formally cast on January 22, 1958. His salary was $250,000 for 30 weeks, a prorated salary for any time over 30 weeks, and travel expenses for his family.

Heston’s performance won him the Academy Award for Best Actor, contributing to the film’s overall success. Ben-Hur won 11 Oscars, setting a record that stood for decades. The story, based on Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, is set in ancient Rome and follows the journey of a Jewish prince (Judah Ben-Hur) who is betrayed by his childhood friend Messala, leading him into slavery.

Following a $14.7 million marketing effort, Ben-Hur premiered at Loew’s State Theatre in New York City on November 18, 1959. It was the fastest-grossing as well as the highest-grossing film of 1959, becoming the second highest-grossing film in history at the time, after Gone with the Wind. In 1998, the American Film Institute named it the 72nd best American film and the second best American epic film in the AFI’s 10 Top 10. In 2004, the National Film Preservation Board selected Ben-Hur for preservation by the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”