Action star Charles Bronson dies

Los Angeles — Charles Bronson, the Pennsylvania coalminer who drifted into films 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.

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.”

His most controversial film came in 1974 with “Death Wish.” As an affluent, liberal architect, Bronson’s life is shattered when young thugs kill his wife and rape his daughter. He vows to rid the city of such vermin, and his executions brought cheers from crime-weary audiences.

McCartney wedding unconfirmed

Isle of Bute, Scotland — Celebrities including Madonna and Chrissie Hynde were tight-lipped about the apparent wedding of designer Stella McCartney and publisher Alasdhair Willis as they left this remote Scottish island Sunday.

Pretenders singer Hynde would only say that the 31-year-old daughter of former Beatle Paul McCartney looked “beautiful.”

There was no official confirmation that McCartney had married Willis, also 31, Saturday at Mount Stuart, a Victorian gothic mansion on Bute.

The Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that the newly married couple were driven away from the ceremony in a carriage drawn by two Clydesdale horses.

Dozens of celebrities including Paul McCartney and his wife, Heather Mills, Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Gucci boss Tom Ford were spotted on the island.

Sausage king to receive diploma

Plainview, Texas — Fifty-five years ago, Jimmy Dean dropped out of high school to support his mother.

This week, the 75-year-old country music star turned sausage king will finally be getting his diploma.

A friend worked with the Plainview school district officials to get him the diploma. Although the friend, Dean’s wife and district officials tried to keep the diploma a secret, Dean eventually figured out that something was going on.

“I didn’t know a thing in the world, until I put two and two and two together, and when I ended up with three, I knew something was wrong,” he said.