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Charles Bronson: A Legendary American Actor
Charles Bronson was a renowned American film actor, best known for portraying tough, vigilante characters. His career spanned several decades, with iconic roles in films such as The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Great Escape (1963), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Mechanic (1972), and Death Wish (1974).
Early Life
Born Charles Dennis Buchinsky on November 3, 1921, in Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, Bronson was the 11th of 15 children in a Lithuanian-American family. His father, a Lithuanian immigrant, and his mother, a Lithuanian-American, raised their large family in a coal mining town. As a young man, Bronson worked in the mines before being drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II.
Film Career
Bronson’s breakout role came with the 1960 western The Magnificent Seven, where he portrayed Bernardo O’Reilly. He solidified his status as a leading man in action films with his portrayal of Danny Velinski in The Great Escape (1963). Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Bronson became synonymous with tough-guy roles, especially in gritty thrillers like The Mechanic (1972) and the vigilante classic Death Wish (1974). His filmography also includes notable appearances in The Dirty Dozen (1967), Ten to Midnight (1983), The President’s Assassin (1987), Death Wish V (1994), and Dead to Rights (1995).
Personal Life and Legacy
Bronson’s personal life was marked by his marriage to British actress Jill Ireland, whom he wed in 1968. The couple remained together until Ireland’s death in 1990. Bronson’s later years were marred by health struggles, including a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He passed away on August 30, 2003, at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy as one of Hollywood’s most enduring tough-guy icons.