Charles Bronson The All Time Tough Guy

Charles Bronson The All Time Tough Guy

Charles Bronson was born on November 3, 1921 in Ehrenfield, Pennsylvania, USA as Charles Dennis Buchinsky. He was the 11th of 15 children of Lithuanian immigrant parents. At his early age, he worked as a coal miner until he was drafted to serve in World War II. 


Bronson joined the United States Army Air Forces and served as an aircraft gunner in the 760th Flexible Gunnery Training Squadron, and also served as a Superfortress crewman with the 39th Bombardment Group based on Guam. He was assigned to a B-29 bomber, and flew on 25 missions for that he was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received during his service.


Bronson's first film role was as a sailor in You're in the Navy Now in 1951. Other early screen appearances were in Pat and Mike, Miss Sadie Thompson and House of Wax (as Vincent Price's henchman Igor). In 1952, Bronson boxed in a ring with Roy Rogers in Rogers' show Knockout. He also appeared on the "Red Skelton Show" as a boxer in a skit with Red as his character of "Cauliflower" McPugg.


Bronson made several appearances on television in the 1950s and 1960s, including the lead role of the episode "The Apache Kid" of the syndicated crime drama Sheriff of Cochise. In 1961 he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his supporting role in a TV episode with the title Memory in White.


Bronson was very much known for his tough-guy characters in violent thrillers such as The Mechanic and Death Wish series. Other films include The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Dirty Dozen, Ten to Midnight, The President's Assassin, Death Wish V, and Dead to Rights. 


Bronson was married to British actress Jill Ireland from 1968 until her death in 1990. After suffering from Alzheimers and battling pneumonia, 81 year-old Charles Bronson died on August 30, 2003.


Related links:


Clint Eastwood Man With No Name