Charles Bronson

American actor (1921–2003)

Charles Bronson (November 3, 1921 – August 30, 2003) was an American actor. He was a Purple Heart recipient.

Charles Bronson
Bronson at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival
Born
Charles Dennis Buchinsky

(1921-11-03)November 3, 1921
Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, USA
DiedAugust 30, 2003(2003-08-30) (aged 81)
Cause of deathRespiratory and congestive heart failure complicated by COPD and lung cancer
OccupationActor
Years active1951–1999
Spouses
  • Harriett Tendler (m. 1949–1965)​
  • Jill Ireland ​(m. 1968; died 1990)​
  • Kim Weeks ​(m. 1998)
Children4

Background

He was born in Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania. Bronson was married to Jill Ireland (his second marriage, 1968–1990) until her death from breast cancer. He died of pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease. He is of Tatar origin. He died in Los Angeles.

He played Paul Kersey in the Death Wish movie series. He was 5'9". He was 81 years old when he died. His real full name was Charles Dennis Buchinsky Rectified - Karolis was the 1st name, his parents being from Litva, a Balto-Slavic nation, not Tartar.

Born Charles Buchinsky, Bronson changed his last name during his early career in the 1950s during the rise of McCarthyism. This was suggested by his agent in order to save his career from potentially being blacklisted as a communist.

Movies

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1951You're in the Navy NowWascylewskiUncredited
1951The People Against O'HaraAngelo KorvacUncredited
1951The MobJack - LongshoremanUncredited
1952Red Skies of MontanaNeffUncredited
1952My Six ConvictsJockoCredited as Charles Buchinsky
1952The Marrying KindEddieUncredited
1952Pat and MikeHank TaslingCredited as Charles Buchinsky
1952Diplomatic CourierRussian AgentUncredited
1952Battle ZonePrivateUncredited
1952Bloodhounds of BroadwayPhil Green - aka "Pittsburgh Philo"Uncredited
1952Torpedo AlleySubmarinerUncredited
1952Off LimitsRussellUncredited
1953The ClownEddie - Dice PlayerUncredited
1953House of WaxIgorCredited as Charles Buchinsky
1953Crime WaveBen HastingsCredited as Charles Buchinsky
1953Miss Sadie ThompsonPrivate EdwardsCredited as Charles Buchinsky
1954Tennessee ChampSixty JubelCredited as Charles Buchinsky
1954Riding ShotgunPintoCredited as Charles Buchinsky
1954ApacheHondoCredited as Charles Buchinsky
1954Drum BeatKintpuash - aka Captain Jack
1954Vera CruzPittsburghCredited as Charles Buchinsky
1955Big House, U.S.A.Benny Kelly
1955Target ZeroSergeant Vince Gaspari
1956JubalReb Haislipp
1957Run of the ArrowBlue Buffalo
1958Showdown at Boot HillLuke Welsh
1958Machine-Gun KellyGeorge R. "Machine Gun" Kelly
1958Gang WarAlan Avery
1958When Hell Broke LooseSteve Boland
1959Never So FewSergeant John Danforth
1960The Magnificent SevenBernardo O'Reilly
1961Master of the WorldJohn Strock
1961A Thunder of DrumsTrooper Hanna
1961X-15Lieutenant Colonel Lee Brandon
1962Kid GalahadLew Nyack
1963The Great EscapeLieutenant Danny "Tunnel King" Welinski
19634 for TexasMatson
1964Guns of DiabloLinc Murdock
1965The SandpiperCos Erickson
1965Battle of the BulgeMajor Wolenski
1966This Property Is CondemnedJ.J. Nichols
1967The Dirty DozenJoseph Wladislaw
1968Guns for San SebastianTeclo
1968Villa RidesRodolfo Fierro
1968Adieu l'amiFranz Propp
1968Once Upon a Time in the West"Harmonica"
1970LolaScott Wardman
1970Rider on the RainColonel Harry Dobbs
1970You Can't Win 'Em AllJosh Corey
1970Violent CityJeff Heston
1970Cold SweatJoe Moran / Joe Martin
1971Someone Behind the Door"The Stranger"
1971Red SunLink Stuart
1972The Valachi PapersJoseph "Joe" Valachi
1972Chato's LandPardon Chato
1972The MechanicArthur Bishop
1973The Stone KillerDetective Lou Torrey
1973ChinoChino Valdez
1974Mr. MajestykVince Majestyk
1974Death WishDr. Paul Kersey
1975BreakoutNick Colton
1975Hard TimesChaney
1975Breakheart PassAgent John Deakin / John Murray
1976From Noon till ThreeGraham
1976St. IvesRaymond St Ives
1977The White BuffaloBill Hickok / James Otis
1977TelefonMajor Grigori Borzov
1979Love and BulletsDetective Charlie Congers
1980CaboblancoGifford "Giff" Hoyt
1980BorderlineAgent Jeb Maynard
1981Death HuntAlbert Johnson
1982Death Wish IIDr. Paul Kersey / Mr. Kimble
198310 to MidnightDetective Leo Kessler
1984The Evil That Men DoHolland
1985Death Wish 3Dr. Paul Kersey
1986Murphy's LawDetective Jack Murphy
1987AssassinationJay Killion
1987Death Wish 4: The CrackdownDr. Paul Kersey
1988Messenger of DeathGarret Smith
1989Kinjite: Forbidden SubjectsLieutenant Crowe
1991The Indian RunnerMr. Roberts
1994Death Wish V: The Face of DeathDr. Paul Kersey / Professor Paul Stewart

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1956Have Camera Will TravelReeseTelevision short film
1976Raid on EntebbeGeneral Dan ShomronTelevision film
1986Act of VengeanceJoseph "Jock" YablonskiTelevision film
1991Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa ClausFrancis ChurchTelevision film
1993The Sea WolfCaptain Wolf LarsenTelevision film
1993Donato and DaughterSergeant Mike DonatoTelevision film
1995Family of CopsCommissioner Paul FeinTelevision film
1997Breach of Faith: A Family of Cops 2Commissioner Paul FeinTelevision film
1999Family of Cops 3Commissioner Paul FeinTelevision film

References

Other websites

Media related to Charles Bronson at Wikimedia Commons