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Charles Bronson

Charles Bronson

75 movies on Netflix

Biography

Charles Bronson was an American actor known for action films. Born in Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, he grew up in a coal mining region and worked in the mines before serving in World War II. He worked with a Philadelphia theater troupe and studied acting. After supporting parts in the 1950s, he took his first leading film role in Machine-Gun Kelly (1958). Wider recognition came with The Magnificent Seven (1960) and The Great Escape (1963), followed by This Property Is Condemned (1966) and The Dirty Dozen (1967). European successes included Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). Rider on the Rain (1970), a French thriller, took a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, and he became the most popular American actor in Europe. Death Wish (1974) was a major box office success and led to four sequels. He earned an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe Henrietta Award, and reviewers praised his later supporting turn in The Indian Runner (1991).

81years old at death

  • Born Ehrenfeld
  • Died Los Angeles
  • Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
  • Charles Dennis Buchinsky (birth name)

Movie Career

Films
75
Career span
69 years1951 to 2020

Genres

First and latest

Photos

  • Charles Bronson, photo 1 of 3
  • Charles Bronson, photo 2 of 3
  • Charles Bronson, photo 3 of 3

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  1. A role that slipped away

    Bronson turned down the lead in Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars in 1964, then later starred in Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West.

  2. Getting ready for a role

    Bronson learned sign language to prepare for his role as Igor, the mute sidekick in the 1953 horror film House of Wax.

  3. First role

    Bronson made his film debut in 1951, playing an uncredited sailor in You're in the Navy Now, a film directed by Henry Hathaway.

  4. A role that slipped away

    Bronson was also cast to star in Duck, You Sucker! in 1972, but he did not end up working on the project.

  5. A role that slipped away

    For Escape from New York in 1981, the studio wanted Bronson as Snake Plissken. Director John Carpenter decided he looked too tough and was too old for the part, so he cast Kurt Russell instead.

Charles Bronson movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. Once Upon a Time in the West1968 Westernas Harmonica

    IMDb rating 8.5388K votes

  2. The Great Escape1963 Adventure, Drama, Historyas Danny 'Tunnel King'

    IMDb rating 8.2280K votes

  3. Death Wish1974as Paul Kersey

    IMDb rating 6.949K votes

  4. Death Wish II1982as Paul Kersey

    IMDb rating 6.021K votes

  5. The Dirty Dozen1967as Joseph Wladislaw

    IMDb rating 7.785K votes

  6. The Magnificent Seven1960as Bernardo O'Reilly

    IMDb rating 7.7112K votes

  7. The Mechanic1972as Arthur Bishop

    IMDb rating 6.818K votes

  8. Hard Times1975as Chaney

    IMDb rating 7.215K votes

Most often with

J. Lee Thompson directed eight of these films, Michael Winner six and John Sturges four. Jill Ireland appears in fifteen of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Jill Ireland, 15 films togetherSee the 15 films with Jill IrelandErnest Borgnine, 5 films togetherSee the 5 films with Ernest BorgnineEd Lauter, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Ed LauterJack Elam, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Jack ElamLee Marvin, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Lee MarvinMartin Balsam, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Martin BalsamJ. Lee ThompsonDirector, 8 filmsSee the 8 films by J. Lee ThompsonMichael WinnerDirector, 6 filmsSee the 6 films by Michael WinnerJohn SturgesDirector, 4 filmsSee the 4 films by John Sturges

Films together

Box office

What Charles Bronson's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$346 million

26 of the 75 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 75 films: 26 worldwide figure; 10 us gross only; 9 never in cinemas; 30 figure not found.

  • 26Worldwide figure
  • 10US gross only
  • 9Never in cinemas
  • 30Figure not found

Top grosser

Death Wish1974as Paul Kersey$76.6 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 74% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    Death Wish1974as Paul Kersey
    $77M22.2% of the total
  2. 2
    The Dirty Dozen1967as Joseph Wladislaw
    $45M13.1% of the total
  3. 3
    Death Wish II1982as Paul Kersey
    $45M13.0% of the total
  4. 4
    House of Wax1953as Igor
    $24M6.9% of the total
  5. 5
    The Magnificent Seven1960as Bernardo O'Reilly
    $20M5.6% of the total
  6. 6
    Death Wish 31985as Paul Kersey
    $16M4.7% of the total
  7. 7
    Breakout1975as Nick Colton
    $16M4.6% of the total
  8. 8
    The Evil That Men Do1984as Holland
    $13M3.8% of the total
The Great Escape (1963), $11.7 millionBattle of the Bulge (1965), $11.1 millionMurphy's Law (1986), $9.9 million10 to Midnight (1983), $7.2 millionDeath Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987), $6.9 millionThe Sandpiper (1965), $6.2 millionAssassination (1987), $6.1 millionOnce Upon a Time in the West (1968), $5.4 millionDeath Hunt (1981), $5.0 millionHard Times (1975), $5.0 millionMessenger of Death (1988), $3.1 millionThis Property Is Condemned (1966), $2.6 millionKid Galahad (1962), $2.5 millionBorderline (1980), $2.3 millionBreakheart Pass (1975), $2.1 millionDeath Wish V: The Face of Death (1994), $1.7 million

$90.3 millionfrom the other 18 films with a worldwide figure, 26% of the total

Awards

Four awards and honors from 1972 to 1996.

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Charles Bronson's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Other honors
1996Golden Boot AwardsWon
1980Star on Hollywood Walk of FameHonored
1972Henrietta AwardWon
Purple HeartWon

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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