Charles Bronson dead at 81

Sep 01, 2003 by Ian Evans

Charles Bronson, the tough-guy actor known best for the Death Wish films, has died at the age of 81.

According to his spokesperson, Bronson passed away Saturday due to complications from pneumonia at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He had been in the hospital since early August suffering serious organ failure.

Often frustrated with the genre he found himself in, Bronson once hoped he could be in a film that let the dialogue due the acting. However, audiences will always associate with a variety of action films including the Death Wish series that began with the first of the vigalante flicks back in 1974. While promoting Death Wish 3, Bronson told the reporter it was pretty much the same as the first two films.

His first film role was You’re in the Navy Now, which starred Gary Cooper. Other films included The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Dirty Dozen and Mr. Majestyk.