Ali Radmand / Iran

Charles Bronson, the Pennsylvania coal miner who drifted into films cast as a villain and became a hard-faced action star, notably in the popular "Death Wish" vengeance movies, has died. He was 81.

Bronson died Saturday of pneumonia at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with his wife at his bedside, publicist Lori Jonas said. He had been in the hospital for weeks, Jonas said.

During the height of his career, Bronson was hugely popular in Europe; the French knew him as "Le Sacre Monstre" (The Sacred Monster), the Italians as "Il Brutto" (The Ugly Man). In 1971, he was presented a Golden Globe as "the most popular actor in the world."

Like Clint Eastwood, whose spaghetti westerns won him stardom, Bronson had to make European films to prove his worth as a star. He left a featured-role career in Hollywood to play leads in films made in France, Italy and Spain. His blunt manner, powerful build and air of danger made
him the most popular actor in those countries.