He was the ultimate tough-guy to millions of movie goers from the 60's through the 90's. He played good guys and bad, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, syndicate killers and vigilantes bent on vengeance. But no matter what role he played, Charles Bronson ALWAYS played it from the heart ... and nobody did it better. Born to Lithuanian immigrants in Pennsylvania, Charles Buchinsky left the coal mines of his childhood to join the Army Air Corps during WWII. Eventually making his way to Hollywood, this tough-as-nails actor changed his name to "Bronson" and soon landed roles as a bit player to big stars and later, as "one of the guys" in hit films like The Magnificent Seven and The Dirty Dozen. Eventually becoming a big star in Europe though films like Once Upon A Time in the West and Cold Sweat, he found his niche portraying Mafia "hitmen" in films like The Family, The Valachi Papers and The Mechanic. Fame in the USA eluded him until 1974's Death Wish, where Bronson's portrayal as vigilante Paul Kersey catapulted him to the rank of the #1 box-office star in the world. When I first began writing my tale of the mysterious Jeremiah Bronson, it was Charles who formed the perfect image in my mind. I also used his given name, Buchinsky, to label Jeremiah's nemesis, Vladimir. Charles Bronson is a major reason that "action films" even exist today. In my mind, no one ever dealt revenge like tough Charlie Bronson. Rest in peace, sir. For a look at a great Bronson website, go to: http://members.fortunecity.com/bronson1/
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