BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. -- Charlton Heston's death triggers a look back at many of his iconic movies.

"He truly was an educator, a filmmaker, an actor, and I think all those things really made a complex individual," said Lawrence Kasson, the Rod Serling Video Festival founder.

From the historic roles in “Ben-Hur” and as Moses in the “Ten Commandments” to science-fiction films such as “Planet of the Apes.” The screenplay for that movie was written by Rod Serling.

Lawrence Kasson is the founder of the Rod Serling Video Festival for youth. He believes Heston was an inspiration to all those in the film industry.

"He had a tremendous stature. He was a voice that was most recognizable. When he was on the screen, he commanded the screen. I mean everyone's attention focused to him as an actor. And he just had a way of portraying the character. Some people actually think of him when they think of the individual," Kasson said.

While there are those who mourn and admire the actor, there are also those who look back on Charlton Heston's personal life and the causes he fought for.

"I was shocked. He was a great actor, great American and a great advocate of guns," said Bob Hinman, a Binghamton Rifle Club member.

Heston was President of the National Rifle Association from 1998 to 2003.

"I think he did a fantastic job, he wrote articles, he obviously helped steer the national rifle association into peacetime use of firearms," said Hinman.

It wasn't a life without controversy but in his 84 years, Charlton Heston managed to leave his mark on several different stages.