9 Actors Who Begged For Their Movie Characters To Die

2. Charlton Heston - Beneath The Planet Of The Apes

Why He Wanted To Die

Unlike some of the others on this list, Charlton Heston didn't actually hate Planet Of The Apes or his character, but he simply had no interest in returning to the character. Still, because he was an honourable man, apparently, he did turn up in Beneath The Planet Of The Apes when he was told he was indispensable.

Fox studio head Richard D. Zanuck thought he was essential to the sequel and despite some disagreements between the parties, Heston agreed to briefly appear only if his character was killed in the first reel and also on the provision that his pay go to charity. In the end, he's not killed immediately, instead disappearing at the start of the movie, only to return at the end, when he's killed off.

How It Happened

After disappearing right at the start, Heston's Taylor is found in a cell at the end of the movie and helps new hero Brent try to avert a doomsday bomb explosion that would destroy the planet. Ultimately, they fail and a mortally wounded Taylor ends up triggering the bomb himself, while Heston does some excellent fake-bloody-hands-acting.