What actor is as tough as his on-screen persona?
By Alexi Iemhev, Freelance writer
In this case, it’s “tougher”.
Charles Bronson had the sort of body modern men need steroids for:
Bronson’s biography reads like a hyper-masculine anecdote. The 11th of 15 children, Charles Buchinski was 10 when his father died. Charlie started working in the mines as a teenager.
Bronson had to feed his huge immigrant family. The payment for mining a ton of coal was one dollar. Despite being so manly, Bronson wore the clothes of his older sister, his family was that poor. All the while, he studied in high school, the first of his family to finish it.
After he graduated, Bronson enrolled in the United States Air Force. During the Second World War, Bronson flew 25 missions as a gunner. He was wounded and received the Purple Heart. The war ended, and Charlie went back to the States, where he worked various odd jobs. He developed an interests for acting around that time.
Charles Bronson described acting as the easiest thing he’s ever done. He made action movies well into his 60s. He was 66 for Death Wish 4.
With all that machismo, you’d think that Charles Bronson would act tough and be full of himself… but he didn’t and wasn’t. He was very reserved, by most accounts, a nice family man and his hobby was painting. Sadly, Bronson’s beloved wife and frequent co-star, Jill Ireland, passed away from cancer in 1990. Charlie raised a lot of money for cancer charity.
Some of the best directors wanted to work with Bronson.
Sergio Leone offered Bronson roles in every single one of the Dollar trilogy films. He turned them down each time, which paved the way for Clint Eastwood’s career. Finally, Bronson accepted Leone’s deal of playing the lead role in Once Upon a Time in the West, one of the great cinematic classics that includes an amazing performance by Bronson.
Ingmar Bergman offered Bronson a collaboration on a film, but Charlie turned him down because he thought “everything is weakness and sickness with Bergman.” I certainly agree on that part, though it would be interesting to see an abstract Freudian piece with Bronson as the lead.
Bronson was turned down for the role of Snake Plissken (Escape from New York & Escape From L.A.) because he was too masculine and tough. When offered one of his signature roles, the lead in Death Wish, he said to director Michael Winner “I’d like to do it.” Winner asked: “You’d like to do the movie?” and Bronson said “No, I’d like to shoot muggers.”
He made movies well into his 70s.
Bronson was an actor much tougher than his roles, which were very tough.He made action movies well into his 60s. He was 66 for Death Wish 4. With all that machismo, you’d think that Charles Bronson would act tough and be full of himself… but he didn’t and wasn’t. He was very reserved, by most accounts, a nice family man and his hobby was painting. Sadly, Bronson’s beloved wife and frequent co-star, Jill Ireland, passed away from cancer in 1990. Charlie raised a lot of money for cancer charity.
Bronson died at age 81, in 2003. I don’t think there ever was an action star that was as tough as Charles Bronson. His name is so heavily associated with masculinity that Britain’s most notorious prisoner and fist-fighter adopted it as his own. There’s a movie made about him called Bronson.
Bronson was an actor much tougher than his roles, which were very tough.
slatten49 wrote:
What actor is as tough as his on-screen persona?
By Alexi Iemhev, Freelance writer
In this case, it’s “tougher”.
In this case, it’s “tougher”.
Charles Bronson had the sort of body modern men need steroids for:
Bronson’s biography reads like a hyper-masculine anecdote. The 11th of 15 children, Charles Buchinski was 10 when his father died. Charlie started working in the mines as a teenager.
Bronson had to feed his huge immigrant family. The payment for mining a ton of coal was one dollar. Despite being so manly, Bronson wore the clothes of his older sister, his family was that poor.
All the while, he studied in high school, the first of his family to finish it.
After he graduated, Bronson enrolled in the United States Air Force. During the Second World War, Bronson flew 25 missions as a gunner. He was wounded and received the Purple Heart. The war ended, and Charlie went back to the States, where he worked various odd jobs. He developed an interests for acting around that time.
Charles Bronson described acting as the easiest thing he’s ever done. He made action movies well into his 60s. He was 66 for Death Wish 4.
With all that machismo, you’d think that Charles Bronson would act tough and be full of himself… but he didn’t and wasn’t. He was very reserved, by most accounts, a nice family man and his hobby was painting. Sadly, Bronson’s beloved wife and frequent co-star, Jill Ireland, passed away from cancer in 1990. Charlie raised a lot of money for cancer charity.
Some of the best directors wanted to work with Bronson.
Sergio Leone offered Bronson roles in every single one of the Dollar trilogy films. He turned them down each time, which paved the way for Clint Eastwood’s career. Finally, Bronson accepted Leone’s deal of playing the lead role in Once Upon a Time in the West, one of the great cinematic classics that includes an amazing performance by Bronson.
Ingmar Bergman offered Bronson a collaboration on a film, but Charlie turned him down because he thought “everything is weakness and sickness with Bergman.” I certainly agree on that part, though it would be interesting to see an abstract Freudian piece with Bronson as the lead.
Bronson was turned down for the role of Snake Plissken because he was too masculine and tough. When offered one of his signature roles, the lead in Death Wish, he said to director Michael Winner “I’d like to do it.” Winner asked: “You’d like to do the movie?” and Bronson said “No, I’d like to shoot muggers.”
He made movies well into his 70s.
Bronson was an actor much tougher than his roles, which were very tough.He made action movies well into his 60s. He was 66 for Death Wish 4.
With all that machismo, you’d think that Charles Bronson would act tough and be full of himself… but he didn’t and wasn’t. He was very reserved, by most accounts, a nice family man and his hobby was painting. Sadly, Bronson’s beloved wife and frequent co-star, Jill Ireland, passed away from cancer in 1990. Charlie raised a lot of money for cancer charity.
Some of the best directors wanted to work with Bronson.
Sergio Leone offered Bronson roles in every single one of the Dollar trilogy films. He turned them down each time, which paved the way for Clint Eastwood’s career. Finally, Bronson accepted Leone’s deal of playing the lead role in Once Upon a Time in the West, one of the great cinematic classics that includes an amazing performance by Bronson.
Ingmar Bergman offered Bronson a collaboration on a film, but Charlie turned him down because he thought “everything is weakness and sickness with Bergman.” I certainly agree on that part, though it would be interesting to see an abstract Freudian piece with Bronson as the lead.
Bronson was turned down for the role of Snake Plissken because he was too masculine and tough. When offered one of his signature roles, the lead in Death Wish, he said to director Michael Winner “I’d like to do it.” Winner asked: “You’d like to do the movie?” and Bronson said “No, I’d like to shoot muggers.”
He made movies well into his 70s.
Bronson died at age 81, in 2003. I don’t think there ever was an action star that was as tough as Charles Bronson. His name is so heavily associated with masculinity that Britain’s most notorious prisoner and fist-fighter adopted it as his own. There’s a movie made about him called Bronson.
Bronson was an actor much tougher than his roles, which were very tough.
What actor is as tough as his on-screen persona? b... (
show quote)
What we don't know about a person often causes everything good and bad that people come to know about them. Essentially nothing.
rumitoid wrote:
What we don't know about a person often causes everything good and bad that people come to know about them. Essentially nothing.
Ummmm.. ....huh?
I, personally was happy to read this account of that man's life. He was always one of my favorite actors.
I know......toxic masculinity.........he was a MAN!
slatten49 wrote:
What actor is as tough as his on-screen persona?
By Alexi Iemhev, Freelance writer
In this case, it’s “tougher”.
Charles Bronson had the sort of body modern men need steroids for:
Bronson’s biography reads like a hyper-masculine anecdote. The 11th of 15 children, Charles Buchinski was 10 when his father died. Charlie started working in the mines as a teenager.
Bronson had to feed his huge immigrant family. The payment for mining a ton of coal was one dollar. Despite being so manly, Bronson wore the clothes of his older sister, his family was that poor. All the while, he studied in high school, the first of his family to finish it.
After he graduated, Bronson enrolled in the United States Air Force. During the Second World War, Bronson flew 25 missions as a gunner. He was wounded and received the Purple Heart. The war ended, and Charlie went back to the States, where he worked various odd jobs. He developed an interests for acting around that time.
Charles Bronson described acting as the easiest thing he’s ever done. He made action movies well into his 60s. He was 66 for Death Wish 4.
With all that machismo, you’d think that Charles Bronson would act tough and be full of himself… but he didn’t and wasn’t. He was very reserved, by most accounts, a nice family man and his hobby was painting. Sadly, Bronson’s beloved wife and frequent co-star, Jill Ireland, passed away from cancer in 1990. Charlie raised a lot of money for cancer charity.
Some of the best directors wanted to work with Bronson.
Sergio Leone offered Bronson roles in every single one of the Dollar trilogy films. He turned them down each time, which paved the way for Clint Eastwood’s career. Finally, Bronson accepted Leone’s deal of playing the lead role in Once Upon a Time in the West, one of the great cinematic classics that includes an amazing performance by Bronson.
Ingmar Bergman offered Bronson a collaboration on a film, but Charlie turned him down because he thought “everything is weakness and sickness with Bergman.” I certainly agree on that part, though it would be interesting to see an abstract Freudian piece with Bronson as the lead.
Bronson was turned down for the role of Snake Plissken (Escape from New York & Escape From L.A.) because he was too masculine and tough. When offered one of his signature roles, the lead in Death Wish, he said to director Michael Winner “I’d like to do it.” Winner asked: “You’d like to do the movie?” and Bronson said “No, I’d like to shoot muggers.”
He made movies well into his 70s.
Bronson was an actor much tougher than his roles, which were very tough.He made action movies well into his 60s. He was 66 for Death Wish 4. With all that machismo, you’d think that Charles Bronson would act tough and be full of himself… but he didn’t and wasn’t. He was very reserved, by most accounts, a nice family man and his hobby was painting. Sadly, Bronson’s beloved wife and frequent co-star, Jill Ireland, passed away from cancer in 1990. Charlie raised a lot of money for cancer charity.
Bronson died at age 81, in 2003. I don’t think there ever was an action star that was as tough as Charles Bronson. His name is so heavily associated with masculinity that Britain’s most notorious prisoner and fist-fighter adopted it as his own. There’s a movie made about him called Bronson.
Bronson was an actor much tougher than his roles, which were very tough.
What actor is as tough as his on-screen persona? b... (
show quote)
I watched Charles early in his acting career, when he was way down on the supporting actor list, where he was one of the very few who didn't "over act" during closeups of the main actors. He was a class act.
The first time I recall seeing him was on a TV show called Empire. I was hooked for life. I don't recall a show or movie he did that I didn't enjoy but the Mechanic was one of my favorites.
slatten49 wrote:
What actor is as tough as his on-screen persona?
By Alexi Iemhev, Freelance writer
In this case, it’s “tougher”.
Charles Bronson had the sort of body modern men need steroids for:
Bronson’s biography reads like a hyper-masculine anecdote. The 11th of 15 children, Charles Buchinski was 10 when his father died. Charlie started working in the mines as a teenager.
Bronson had to feed his huge immigrant family. The payment for mining a ton of coal was one dollar. Despite being so manly, Bronson wore the clothes of his older sister, his family was that poor. All the while, he studied in high school, the first of his family to finish it.
After he graduated, Bronson enrolled in the United States Air Force. During the Second World War, Bronson flew 25 missions as a gunner. He was wounded and received the Purple Heart. The war ended, and Charlie went back to the States, where he worked various odd jobs. He developed an interests for acting around that time.
Charles Bronson described acting as the easiest thing he’s ever done. He made action movies well into his 60s. He was 66 for Death Wish 4.
With all that machismo, you’d think that Charles Bronson would act tough and be full of himself… but he didn’t and wasn’t. He was very reserved, by most accounts, a nice family man and his hobby was painting. Sadly, Bronson’s beloved wife and frequent co-star, Jill Ireland, passed away from cancer in 1990. Charlie raised a lot of money for cancer charity.
Some of the best directors wanted to work with Bronson.
Sergio Leone offered Bronson roles in every single one of the Dollar trilogy films. He turned them down each time, which paved the way for Clint Eastwood’s career. Finally, Bronson accepted Leone’s deal of playing the lead role in Once Upon a Time in the West, one of the great cinematic classics that includes an amazing performance by Bronson.
Ingmar Bergman offered Bronson a collaboration on a film, but Charlie turned him down because he thought “everything is weakness and sickness with Bergman.” I certainly agree on that part, though it would be interesting to see an abstract Freudian piece with Bronson as the lead.
Bronson was turned down for the role of Snake Plissken (Escape from New York & Escape From L.A.) because he was too masculine and tough. When offered one of his signature roles, the lead in Death Wish, he said to director Michael Winner “I’d like to do it.” Winner asked: “You’d like to do the movie?” and Bronson said “No, I’d like to shoot muggers.”
He made movies well into his 70s.
Bronson was an actor much tougher than his roles, which were very tough.He made action movies well into his 60s. He was 66 for Death Wish 4. With all that machismo, you’d think that Charles Bronson would act tough and be full of himself… but he didn’t and wasn’t. He was very reserved, by most accounts, a nice family man and his hobby was painting. Sadly, Bronson’s beloved wife and frequent co-star, Jill Ireland, passed away from cancer in 1990. Charlie raised a lot of money for cancer charity.
Bronson died at age 81, in 2003. I don’t think there ever was an action star that was as tough as Charles Bronson. His name is so heavily associated with masculinity that Britain’s most notorious prisoner and fist-fighter adopted it as his own. There’s a movie made about him called Bronson.
Bronson was an actor much tougher than his roles, which were very tough.
What actor is as tough as his on-screen persona? b... (
show quote)
I remember him but I didn't know all of that thanks for posting that Slats.
slatten49 wrote:
What actor is as tough as his on-screen persona?
By Alexi Iemhev, Freelance writer
In this case, it’s “tougher”.
Charles Bronson had the sort of body modern men need steroids for:
Bronson’s biography reads like a hyper-masculine anecdote. The 11th of 15 children, Charles Buchinski was 10 when his father died. Charlie started working in the mines as a teenager.
Bronson had to feed his huge immigrant family. The payment for mining a ton of coal was one dollar. Despite being so manly, Bronson wore the clothes of his older sister, his family was that poor. All the while, he studied in high school, the first of his family to finish it.
After he graduated, Bronson enrolled in the United States Air Force. During the Second World War, Bronson flew 25 missions as a gunner. He was wounded and received the Purple Heart. The war ended, and Charlie went back to the States, where he worked various odd jobs. He developed an interests for acting around that time.
Charles Bronson described acting as the easiest thing he’s ever done. He made action movies well into his 60s. He was 66 for Death Wish 4.
With all that machismo, you’d think that Charles Bronson would act tough and be full of himself… but he didn’t and wasn’t. He was very reserved, by most accounts, a nice family man and his hobby was painting. Sadly, Bronson’s beloved wife and frequent co-star, Jill Ireland, passed away from cancer in 1990. Charlie raised a lot of money for cancer charity.
Some of the best directors wanted to work with Bronson.
Sergio Leone offered Bronson roles in every single one of the Dollar trilogy films. He turned them down each time, which paved the way for Clint Eastwood’s career. Finally, Bronson accepted Leone’s deal of playing the lead role in Once Upon a Time in the West, one of the great cinematic classics that includes an amazing performance by Bronson.
Ingmar Bergman offered Bronson a collaboration on a film, but Charlie turned him down because he thought “everything is weakness and sickness with Bergman.” I certainly agree on that part, though it would be interesting to see an abstract Freudian piece with Bronson as the lead.
Bronson was turned down for the role of Snake Plissken (Escape from New York & Escape From L.A.) because he was too masculine and tough. When offered one of his signature roles, the lead in Death Wish, he said to director Michael Winner “I’d like to do it.” Winner asked: “You’d like to do the movie?” and Bronson said “No, I’d like to shoot muggers.”
He made movies well into his 70s.
Bronson was an actor much tougher than his roles, which were very tough.He made action movies well into his 60s. He was 66 for Death Wish 4. With all that machismo, you’d think that Charles Bronson would act tough and be full of himself… but he didn’t and wasn’t. He was very reserved, by most accounts, a nice family man and his hobby was painting. Sadly, Bronson’s beloved wife and frequent co-star, Jill Ireland, passed away from cancer in 1990. Charlie raised a lot of money for cancer charity.
Bronson died at age 81, in 2003. I don’t think there ever was an action star that was as tough as Charles Bronson. His name is so heavily associated with masculinity that Britain’s most notorious prisoner and fist-fighter adopted it as his own. There’s a movie made about him called Bronson.
Bronson was an actor much tougher than his roles, which were very tough.
What actor is as tough as his on-screen persona? b... (
show quote)
Charles Bronson was one of my favorite actors. He played the title role in The Valachi Papers. It came out a year or two after The Godfather and drew comparisons to it. Bronson's performance far outdid Marlon Brando's. Bronson seemed so natural.
A letter writer to The New York Times, shortly after The Godfather's release, asked who was that marvelous Italian actor who played the part of Marlon Brando. My sentiments exactly. By comparison, Brando's portrayal seemed contrived.
Bronson. Terrific!
slatten49 wrote:
What actor is as tough as his on-screen persona?
By Alexi Iemhev, Freelance writer
In this case, it’s “tougher”.
Charles Bronson had the sort of body modern men need steroids for:
Bronson’s biography reads like a hyper-masculine anecdote. The 11th of 15 children, Charles Buchinski was 10 when his father died. Charlie started working in the mines as a teenager.
Bronson had to feed his huge immigrant family. The payment for mining a ton of coal was one dollar. Despite being so manly, Bronson wore the clothes of his older sister, his family was that poor. All the while, he studied in high school, the first of his family to finish it.
After he graduated, Bronson enrolled in the United States Air Force. During the Second World War, Bronson flew 25 missions as a gunner. He was wounded and received the Purple Heart. The war ended, and Charlie went back to the States, where he worked various odd jobs. He developed an interests for acting around that time.
Charles Bronson described acting as the easiest thing he’s ever done. He made action movies well into his 60s. He was 66 for Death Wish 4.
With all that machismo, you’d think that Charles Bronson would act tough and be full of himself… but he didn’t and wasn’t. He was very reserved, by most accounts, a nice family man and his hobby was painting. Sadly, Bronson’s beloved wife and frequent co-star, Jill Ireland, passed away from cancer in 1990. Charlie raised a lot of money for cancer charity.
Some of the best directors wanted to work with Bronson.
Sergio Leone offered Bronson roles in every single one of the Dollar trilogy films. He turned them down each time, which paved the way for Clint Eastwood’s career. Finally, Bronson accepted Leone’s deal of playing the lead role in Once Upon a Time in the West, one of the great cinematic classics that includes an amazing performance by Bronson.
Ingmar Bergman offered Bronson a collaboration on a film, but Charlie turned him down because he thought “everything is weakness and sickness with Bergman.” I certainly agree on that part, though it would be interesting to see an abstract Freudian piece with Bronson as the lead.
Bronson was turned down for the role of Snake Plissken (Escape from New York & Escape From L.A.) because he was too masculine and tough. When offered one of his signature roles, the lead in Death Wish, he said to director Michael Winner “I’d like to do it.” Winner asked: “You’d like to do the movie?” and Bronson said “No, I’d like to shoot muggers.”
He made movies well into his 70s.
Bronson was an actor much tougher than his roles, which were very tough.He made action movies well into his 60s. He was 66 for Death Wish 4. With all that machismo, you’d think that Charles Bronson would act tough and be full of himself… but he didn’t and wasn’t. He was very reserved, by most accounts, a nice family man and his hobby was painting. Sadly, Bronson’s beloved wife and frequent co-star, Jill Ireland, passed away from cancer in 1990. Charlie raised a lot of money for cancer charity.
Bronson died at age 81, in 2003. I don’t think there ever was an action star that was as tough as Charles Bronson. His name is so heavily associated with masculinity that Britain’s most notorious prisoner and fist-fighter adopted it as his own. There’s a movie made about him called Bronson.
Bronson was an actor much tougher than his roles, which were very tough.
What actor is as tough as his on-screen persona? b... (
show quote)
Great info, slatts..
"Charlie" movies are a main stay at our house.. the Death Wish films seem to rotate over the sub channels nearly constantly..
Maybe my fav is Chatos land..
nice post again...
permafrost wrote:
Great info, slatts..
"Charlie" movies are a main stay at our house.. the Death Wish films seem to rotate over the sub channels nearly constantly..
Maybe my fav is Chatos land..
nice post again...
Thanks, Frostie
Hard to pick a favorite from Bronson's movies...but, 'Death Hunt' with Lee Marvin, and 'Once Upon A Time In The West' are certainly among mine. He had a lessor role in 'The Great Escape' as the tunnel digger, but it is also one of 'em.
slatten49 wrote:
Thanks, Frostie
Hard to pick a favorite from Bronson's movies...but, 'Death Hunt' with Lee Marvin, and 'Once Upon A Time In The West' are certainly among mine. He had a lessor role in 'The Great Escape' as the tunnel digger, but it is also one of 'em.
Oh yes, forgot about "the great escape"... great movie..
I loved Charles Bronson. He was also in The Magnificent Seven. Another great movie.
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