Charles Bronson – Air Force

Charles Bronson started acting in 1951, and mostly known for his roll in Once Upon a Time in the West. He died in 2003 at 81 years old leaving a legacy of stellar performances, mainly in Western films. He also shares a name with Britain’s most notorious prisoner.

Not many people know he served in World War II as a combat pilot in the US air force and was awarded the Purple Heart. During the last years of his life, Bronson battled numerous health issues, from pneumonia and Alzheimer’s disease to lung cancer and hip injuries.