R.I.P. Charles Bronson
08-31-03, 10:01 PM
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R.I.P. Charles Bronson
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertain...0831_1249.html
Charles Bronson, Pennsylvania Coal Miner and Tough Star of 'Death Wish' Movies, Dies at 81
LOS ANGELES Aug. 31 —
Charles Bronson, the Pennsylvania coal miner who drifted into films as a villain and became a hard-faced action star, notably in the popular "Death Wish" vengeance movies, has died. He was 81.
Bronson died Saturday of pneumonia at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with his wife at his bedside, publicist Lori Jonas said. He had been in the hospital for weeks, Jonas said.
During the height of his career, Bronson was hugely popular in Europe; the French knew him as "le sacre monstre" (the sacred monster), the Italians as "Il Brutto" (the brute). In 1971, he was presented a Golden Globe as "the most popular actor in the world."
Like Clint Eastwood, whose spaghetti westerns won him stardom, Bronson had to make European films to prove his worth as a star. He left a featured-role career in Hollywood to play leads in films made in France, Italy and Spain. His blunt manner, powerful build and air of danger made him the most popular actor in those countries.
At age 50, he returned to Hollywood a star.
In a 1971 interview, he theorized on why the journey had taken him so long:
"Maybe I'm too masculine. Casting directors cast in their own, or an idealized image. Maybe I don't look like anybody's ideal."
His early life gave no indication of his later fame. He was born Charles Bunchinsky on Nov. 3, 1921 (not 1922, as studio biographies claimed) in Ehrenfeld, Pa. He was the 11th of 15 children of a coal miner and his wife, both Lithuanian immigrants.
Charles Bronson, Pennsylvania Coal Miner and Tough Star of 'Death Wish' Movies, Dies at 81
LOS ANGELES Aug. 31 —
Charles Bronson, the Pennsylvania coal miner who drifted into films as a villain and became a hard-faced action star, notably in the popular "Death Wish" vengeance movies, has died. He was 81.
Bronson died Saturday of pneumonia at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with his wife at his bedside, publicist Lori Jonas said. He had been in the hospital for weeks, Jonas said.
During the height of his career, Bronson was hugely popular in Europe; the French knew him as "le sacre monstre" (the sacred monster), the Italians as "Il Brutto" (the brute). In 1971, he was presented a Golden Globe as "the most popular actor in the world."
Like Clint Eastwood, whose spaghetti westerns won him stardom, Bronson had to make European films to prove his worth as a star. He left a featured-role career in Hollywood to play leads in films made in France, Italy and Spain. His blunt manner, powerful build and air of danger made him the most popular actor in those countries.
At age 50, he returned to Hollywood a star.
In a 1971 interview, he theorized on why the journey had taken him so long:
"Maybe I'm too masculine. Casting directors cast in their own, or an idealized image. Maybe I don't look like anybody's ideal."
His early life gave no indication of his later fame. He was born Charles Bunchinsky on Nov. 3, 1921 (not 1922, as studio biographies claimed) in Ehrenfeld, Pa. He was the 11th of 15 children of a coal miner and his wife, both Lithuanian immigrants.
08-31-03, 11:30 PM
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I guess he finally got his wish.
Alright, bad joke, but I'm grieving. I'm really sorry to see him go. You could pop in a Bronson movie, and you'd know you were in for a badass two-fisted ballcrusher of a film.
RIP, Chuck Buchinski. Whether it's the seasoned fans or the casual fans who found out who you were thanks to a line in True Romance... you will be missed.
Alright, bad joke, but I'm grieving. I'm really sorry to see him go. You could pop in a Bronson movie, and you'd know you were in for a badass two-fisted ballcrusher of a film.
RIP, Chuck Buchinski. Whether it's the seasoned fans or the casual fans who found out who you were thanks to a line in True Romance... you will be missed.
09-01-03, 01:11 AM
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For the longest time, Charles Bronson was my absolute favorite movie star. I watched all his films, collected books based on his films, and even compiled a Bronson file with his films written on index cards containing information on director, stars, writer, etc. This is a very sad day for me. He made a lot of clunkers, but Bronson had a special charisma that rose above even the crappiest flicks. That face with nooks & crannies, the voice that implied a future asskicking, the whole persona worked. I always hoped there was going to be a Death Wish VI, and even in his 80's, Bronson could've pulled it off. He was a tough SOB, even in real life. I once read where an interviewer asked him why he never appeared on a show like Carson, Leno, or Letterman, and he said something to the effect that if Letterman started acting like a silly twit, he would just slap him out of his chair. That was Bronson in a nutshell, he moved to Europe so he didn't have to play the Hollywood game. He would've been an even huger star if he did, but it wasn't his style.
Honk!
Honk!
09-01-03, 01:58 AM
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Sad but not unexpected. He has had alzhimers for a couple of years and was just in the hospital a couple of weeks ago for a great number of problems.
Death Wish - although not the best of films - had a certain manly charm. Dirty Dozen, Great Escape, Magnificant 7 - all awsome Guy flicks before a guy flick was mindless shoot-em-up explosions and special effects.
A true badass who will be missed. . . .
Death Wish - although not the best of films - had a certain manly charm. Dirty Dozen, Great Escape, Magnificant 7 - all awsome Guy flicks before a guy flick was mindless shoot-em-up explosions and special effects.
A true badass who will be missed. . . .
