Charlton Heston, the actor who won an Oscar for his portrayal of the chariot-racing hero Ben-Hur and who campaigned for the American civil rights movement, only later to infuriate Hollywood liberals with his leadership of the National Rifle Association, has died aged 83.

The 6ft 3in star, whose final role was in 2003 when he played Josef Mengele, the infamous Nazi doctor, in My Father, Rua Alguem 5555, died at his home in Beverly Hills with his wife Lydia at his side.

Heston disclosed in 2002 that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. “I must reconcile courage and surrender in equal measure,” he said at the time.

A statement from his family said: “Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life. He was known for his chiselled jaw, broad shoulders and resonating voice, and, of course, for the roles he played. 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.”

Michael Levine, who was the publicist for Heston for 20 years, added: “If Hollywood had a Mount Rushmore, Heston’s face would be on it.”

President Bush led the tributes, describing the actor as a “man of character and integrity, with a big heart”. “He served his country during World War II, marched in the civil rights movement, led a labour union and vigorously defended Americans’ Second Amendment rights [to bear arms],” Mr Bush added.

The former First Lady, Nancy Reagan, whose late husband Ronald also suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, said that she was heartbroken to hear of Heston’s death.

“I will never forget Chuck as a hero on the big screen in the roles he played, but more importantly I considered him a hero in life for the many times that he stepped up to support Ronnie in whatever he was doing,” she said.

John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, described him as “one of our most gifted actors”.

“Off-the-screen, Charlton Heston was also a real-life leader. He served his country and proudly gave his voice in support of some of our most basic rights,” Mr McCain said.

He served as president of the Screen Actors Guild and marched with Martin Luther King against segregation. “That guy Heston has to watch it,” remarked Frank Sinatra. “If he’s not careful, he’ll get actors a good name.”

During the 1972 American presidential election, Heston declared his support for Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate, having campaigned previously for John Kennedy.

In subsequent years he became known for his conservatism, resigning from Actors Equity over what he saw as the “obscenely racist” refusal of the union to allow a white actor to play a Eurasian role.

In a speech in 1997 Heston argued that a liberal culture war was being waged against “the God-fearing, law-abiding, Caucasian, middle-class Protestant, or even worse, evangelical Christian, Midwestern or Southern, or even worse, rural, apparently straight, or even worse, admitted heterosexual, gun-owning, or even worse, NRA card-carrying, average working stiff, or even worse, male, working stiff because, not only don’t you count, you are a downright obstacle to social progress.”

Heston’s conservatism won him few friends in modern Hollywood. In his 2002 documentaryBowling for Columbine Michael Moore, the film-maker, met Heston in his Beverly Hills home and asked him to apologise for giving a pro-gun speech after the high school massacre in Columbine in 1999. Heston refused but the stunt arguably backfired on Moore, eliciting sympathy for the frail and, by then, somewhat confused actor.

In 2003 George Clooney used a speech at the National Board of Review awards to ridicule Heston’s illness, joking: “Charlton Heston announced again today that he is suffering from Alzheimer’s.”

Heston responded by saying: “I don’t know the man, never met him, never even spoken to him, but I feel sorry for George Clooney: one day he may get Alzheimer’s disease. I served my country in World War Two. I survived that; I guess I can survive some bad words from this fellow.”

Clooney later told Esquire magazine: “I wrote him a letter saying I usually avoid making jokes at people’s expense, so I’m sending you an apology, and I got a really nice letter back from his wife.”

A private memorial service for Heston will be held this month.

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