He began in a variety of supporting roles from 1952, graduating to larger roles in such films as "The Magnificent Seven", 1960. He worked in Europe in films such as "C'era una Volta il West/Once Upon a Time in the West", 1968 and returned to the USA taking starring roles, often as a hard, bitten loner, such as the vigilante in "Death Wish", 1974 and its sequels. He often appeared with his second wife, actress Jill Ireland until her death 1990.