While we’ll never know the exact reasons he first lit up, some point to family pressure. What’s unusual about his case was that he started at age nine. Like many actors in the 1950’s, Bronson smoked. Upon seeing it, he turned to his friend and suggested it was perfect. Worried about being blackballed from roles because of his Lithuanian sounding last name, he decided to change it.Īccording to lore, he and his pal (Steve McQueen) were driving one day when McQueen spotted a street sign named “Bronson”. When he first started acting, there was a witch hunt for communists in Hollywood. Simply put – it was (indirectly) because of McCarthyism. He changed his last name from Buchinsky after taking a drive with his buddy, Steve McQueen. McCarthyism (and Steve McQueen) Caused Name ChangeĬharles Bronson wasn’t always “Bronson”. Let’s jump right in! Guy File: Charles Bronsonīirthday: November 3, 1921, Ehrenfeld, PA.ġ. Along the way, I’ve included imagery just for fun. What follows are 10 facts about Charles Bronson you might not know.
That said, I’ve always wondered how many of his roles were informed by echoes of the man himself?
Sure, much of what we saw of him in movies like Death Wish was hyper-masculine bravado. What I admired most about him was his gritty style and confident demeanor.
