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Charles Dennis Buchinsky was born on November 3, 1921 in Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania. The Hollywood star was the eleventh of fifteen children born to a family of Lithuanian origins.
Initially, he couldn't speak English, but was fluent in Lithuanian, Russian and Greek.
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Bronson's family struggled with major financial issues, so he used to work in mines when he was very young. He then enlisted in the American Army Air Forces during the Second World War, serving as an aerial gunner.
After returning from the war, Bronson started working in a Philadelphia theatrical group as a painter. He then transitioned to taking part in minor roles.
The star eventually moved to Hollywood where he formally studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.
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In 1951 Charles Bronson debuted as an actor in the film 'The Mob', as "Jack". That same year he appeared in two more movies, 'You're in the Navy Now' and 'The People Against O'Hara', playing "Wascylewski" and "Angelo", respectively.
His on-screen career continued for over four decades, being cast in notable films such as 'Machine-Gun Kelly' (1958), 'The Magnificent Seven' (1960) and 'The Dirty Dozen' (1967), among many others.
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As for television, the Hollywood legend's most notable roles were featured on multiple episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', between 1956 and 1962.
However, he also made appearances in 'Man with a Camera', 'Yancy Derringer' and 'The Fugitive'.
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Bronson was known for playing "tough guys" in films and series. In real life, he was known for being introverted and shy, usually escaping the press and despising interviews. It is believed this was the result of his early struggles as an actor and his turbulent childhood.
Film critic Roger Ebert once said that the actor seemed "violent" in person, as opposed to other stars who only depicted violence.
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When it comes to his personal life, the 'Machine-Gun Kelly' star married three times.
In 1949, he tied the knot with Harriet Tendler, with whom he shared daughter Suzanne and son Tony. They divorced in 1965.
In 1968, Bronson got married to 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E' actress Jill Ireland (picture). Together, they welcomed daughters Zuleika and Katrina, who joined Bronson's children from his previous marriage, as well as Ireland's three children from a previous relationship.
Charles and Jill remained married until 1990, when she tragically died after a breast cancer battle.
By 1998 Charles was a married man again. His third wife was actress Kim Weeks, who remained by his side until his 2003 death.
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Quick facts about the 'Machine-Gun Kelly' actor:
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Charles Bronson sadly passed away on August 30, 2003, at Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He was 81.
While it was initially reported that he had died of Alzheimer's and pneumonia, his official death certificate cites respiratory failure, metastatic lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive cardiomyopathy as the cause of his death.
Bronson was interred at West Windsor, Vermont's Brownsville Cemetery.
Hollywood icon Charles Bronson built an impressive career, both on TV and film, mostly known for his portrayal of tough characters on Western, war movies.
The star who kept the audience in front of the screens with his performances on 'Once Upon a Time in the West' and 'Machine-Gun Kelly', sadly died in 2003.
This is what caused his death.