Jason Statham recently was the star of ‘The Mechanic,’ a remake of one of his films. Sylvester Stallone at one point expressed interest in starring in ‘Death Wish,’ which would have been another remake of one of his films. I am of course talking about Charles Bronson. He was a man of action, of legend, and of great fortitude.
Born Charles Buchinsky in November of 1921, he was a poor boy in a Pennsylvania mining town. According to IMDB.com, his father before him was a miner, and it was when he finished high school that the young Bronson joined him as a worker in the coal mines.
From there, he went into the service, and was a veteran of World War II.
It was when he became part of the Pasadena Playhouse in California that he ended up off shooting into movies. His first was ‘You’re in the Army now,’ which also had a young Lee Marvin in it.
Bronson looked at acting practically, as a job that paid very good money.
He was cast primarily in action roles throughout his career, and had hits with films such as ‘Death Wish,’ ‘Telefon,’ and ‘The Great Escape.’
The changing of his last name to Bronson came from the Bronson arch at Paramount Studios.
Tragedy befell him when his second wife, Actress Jill Ireland grew sick with cancer. He got to co star with her in a number of films such as ‘From Noon till Three,’ ‘Assassination,’ and ‘Death Wish 2,’ but in the end the disease claimed her life.
An interesting fact about him is that he was considered for the ‘Man with No Name’ roles in the Sergio Leone Westerns that made Clint Eastwood a household name, but turned them down. He did work with Leone though in ‘Once Upon A Time in the West.’
His last theatrical film was ‘Death Wish V,’ but he continued on to make three made for T.V. movies under the ‘Family of Cops’ banner.
He died in 2003.
His impact in cinema was legendary, and even today with other action stars remaking his films, his legacy can be felt.
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