Harriett Bronson, author of CHARLIE & ME: A Memoir (Timberlake Press)
CHARLIE & ME is a Hollywood memoir by the first wife of the iconic actor Charles Bronson which details their 16-year marriage, high-profile divorce, and Harriett’s life as the “ex” Mrs. Famous who reinvents herself as a talk radio host. Harriett was an 18-year-old virgin when she met the 26-year-old former coalminer, Charlie Buchinsky, at a Philadelphia acting school in 1947. On their first date, Charlie had four cents in his pocket. He went on to become one of the highest paid actors in the country. In 1975, he was considered the #1 box office draw in the world. Harriett’s journey parallels that of many women who marry — and somewhere along the way lose themselves. Some identify with her dilemma in discovering the philandering ways of an errant spouse and learn from her experience of walking through the pain and ultimately re-discovering herself, becoming someone in her own right. BIO: Born in Philadelphia , Harriett Bronson went to drama school to fulfill her dream of going on the New York stage. Instead, she met and married a fellow acting student (Bronson) and followed him to California . After her divorce, Harriett ended up as a radio talk show host, loved it, and spent nine years on both KABC and KIEV is Los Angeles . Specializing in interviewing non-celebrities doing interesting things, she caught on. One reviewer dubbed her husky “purr” as the “best voice on late night radio.” Today, she still loves drawing people out in conversations. “It’s in the blood,” she says. Podcast of the interview Download: