McQueen of course. Of course he is a much better actor but maybe even more important he was a much bigger movie star. People wanted him to win, although he very often seemed to lose the game in his films.
I love Charlie Bronson. Always loved him, always will. Growing up without a father I always loved to be around these ‘though’ guys, John Wayne included. They gave you the feeling of ‘alright buster, you’re pretty good, you can join my outfit. And if the going gets though, I’m there right in front of you!’. OUATITW is one of the best films ever made. I guess I liked him most in the 60s. ESCAPE / DOZEN… He was so different in those films, Hollywood just never knew what to do with him. So he went to France & Italy and became a star 
He then made fine films (mostly) until 1974 (I love Mr. Majestyk :))
One thing I never liked so much about him was that he did not take his job as seriousely as Steve & Clint (for instance). For Charlie it was important to have his family on the set, if possible an acting part for his wife in the film. And like Wayne (in his last 15 years) he preferred Directors who were easy to work with. It shows in his work. Some fine films of course. But no masterpieces here. (In 1974 he refused to work with Peckinpah, because he did not want to work with a drunk. Well Steve & Coburn got along fine with Peckinpah and the outcome was great: BONNER / GETAWAY / PAT GARRETT / CROSS OF IRON).
McQueen worked very hard on each of his films, he took his work very serious. That way you make fewer but better films (he more or less retired in 1974,
so of course he didn’t make nearly as many films as Bronson who reached his high that year).
I’d rather have to chose between Charlie and any other 70s / 80s action hero (minus Clint, Belmondo & Terence Hill), Charlie would always be TOP.
Some of you might enjoy my new book on Steve McQueen, 492 pages, 1020 photos.
