Jesus Christ William Wyler San Francisco city Rome parish St. Mary county Charlton performer singer voice opera Jesus Christ William Wyler San Francisco city Rome parish St. Mary county Charlton

Claude Heater, Opera Singer Who Played Jesus in 'Ben-Hur,' Dies at 92

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His face is never seen in the Charlton Heston classic, winner of 11 Academy Awards. Claude Heater, the famed opera singer who appeared with his face unseen as Jesus Christ in William Wyler's epic 1959 production of Ben-Hur, has died.

He was 92. A noted Wagnerian tenor, Heater died May 28 at St. Mary's Medical Center in San Francisco of natural causes after a long illness, according to an announcement on his foundation website.

While performing in Rome, Heater was spotted by Ben-Hur production manager Henry Henigson, who was struck by the singer's "magnificent" voice and "beautiful spiritual face," Hollywood gossip columnist Louella Parsons wrote in 1958.

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