Charlton Heston Was In Rehab In June

Actor and National Rifle Association President Charlton Heston spent three weeks in an alcohol rehabilitation program last spring. His social drinking had gotten out of hand, his publicist said Monday.

"He thought he needed to take care of something that could possibly become a huge problem," publicist Lisa DeMatteo said. "He's actually back at work, taking care of himself and feeling great."

Heston checked himself into a facility in Utah from late May to mid-June, DeMatteo said. She said the star of The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur and Planet of the Apes had never been in rehab before.

"I think it was overwork. He keeps a horrendous travel schedule, and he's 76 years old," DeMatteo said. "He's speaking, he's campaigning, he works for the NRA, he's been doing all this stuff, and you know how it is. You go to these dinners, and they give you a rubber chicken and food that's not really edible, and you have a little bit too much wine."

Heston declined a request for an interview.

Heston is back on a hectic schedule of speaking engagements and is completing work on a film, Town and Country, an ensemble comedy with Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton, DeMatteo said. He's also finishing work on a nonfiction book about his political views.