Charles Bronson dies at age 81

Posted Monday, September 1, 2003 at 12:45 AM Central

by Tim Briscoe

Charles Bronson, an actor whose tough-guy image was second to none in the '70s, has died at the age of 81. Bronson died Saturday after a weeks-long battle with pneumonia at L.A.'s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Born in 1921 in Pennsylvania to Lithuanian immigrant parents, Charles Buchinsky was the 11th of 15 children. After a tough childhood in the coal mines, Charles served in the Air Force during World War II.

Returning from service, Buchinsky used his G.I. Bill to study the arts, including acting, in Philadelphia and later in California. He earned a living in the early days as the villain or supporting tough guy.

Much like Clint Eastwood, Bronson made a name for himself in European action movies. He too returned to Hollywood in the late '60s as a star. It was in 1974 when Bronson made his most memorable film, Death Wish.