**Charles Bronson** (1921-2003) was an American actor, an icon of action cinema and "tough guy" roles.

After years of minor roles, he gained international recognition with memorable roles in Westerns and war films. Among these, *The Magnificent Seven* (1960) and *The Great Escape* (1963) stand out. His breakthrough came with the role of the mysterious man with the harmonica in Sergio Leone's *Once Upon a Time in the West* (1968), which highlighted his screen presence and minimalist acting.

In the 1970s, he became synonymous with the urban vigilante thanks to the controversial *Death Wish* (1974) and its sequels, where he often portrayed characters who took justice into their own hands. His style was characterized by a rugged face, an intense gaze, and often laconic acting, embodying figures such as the solitary avenger, action man, or pragmatic anti-hero.