Charles Bronson is an iconic figure known for his tough-guy roles in action films. He made a lot of money from his career and was worth $65 million at the time of his death in 2003. Bronson became known for his rugged persona and ability to play complex, gritty characters, making him one of the most bankable stars of his time.
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Career Beginnings
Born Charles Buchinsky on November 3, 1921, in Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, Bronson was born into a large Lithuanian immigrant family. His early life was marked by hardship – his family was poor and Bronson worked in coal mines to support his family. Growing up during the Great Depression taught him a work ethic that would serve him well in Hollywood later in life.
After serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, he pursued an acting career. Starting out with small roles in films and television in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Bronson gradually became known for his rugged looks and commanding screen presence. He broke through with supporting roles in films such as The Magnificent Seven (1960) and The Great Escape (1963), two classic ensemble films that made him popular in Hollywood.
Box Office Success and Iconic Roles
Charles Bronson became a leading man in action and revenge films in the late 1960s and 1970s. His 1968 role in Once Upon a Time in the West, directed by Sergio Leone, made him an international star. The film also saw Bronson play the stern gunslinger “Harmonica” with minimal dialogue, relying instead on just his commanding physical presence and intensity.
Among Bronson’s most prominent roles was in the Death Wish series, starting with Death Wish in 1974. He played Paul Kersey, an architect who becomes vigilante after his wife is murdered. The success of Death Wish led to four sequels over the next 20 years and made Bronson a box-office draw. Bronson was at the height of his career in the 1970s and was one of Hollywood’s highest paid actors, earning up to $1 million per film.
Sources of Income
The bulk of Charles Bronson’s wealth came from acting. Bronson has more than 150 film and television credits. He also made money from residuals, particularly from Death Wish, which continued to generate income well after the films’ initial release.
Bronson also invested in real estate; he bought a few properties. He had a Malibu, California, home where he lived with his second wife, actress Jill Ireland, until her death in 1990. His real estate holdings and other investments contribute significantly to his net worth.
Personal Life and Legacy
Bronson was a quiet man in private despite his tough on-screen persona. He married actress Jill Ireland in 1968, and they were together until she died of breast cancer. Bronson later retreated from the public after her death and made his last film appearance in Family of Cops III in 1999.
Bronson died on August 30, 2003, at the age of 81. His legacy as one of Hollywood’s toughest leading men continues to find new audiences. His impact on action and thriller genres is still strong and his wealth at the time of his death reflected the success he had achieved in his career.
