Former Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-Tex.) died today at the age of 76, of cardiopulmonary arrest.
He is most well known for his characterization in the 2007 movie "Charlie Wilson's War," which illustrated his behind-the-scenes efforts for Afghanistan against the Soviet Union in the 1980's. He was played by Tom Hanks. The "war" was one of the largest ever CIA undercover operations, known as "Operation Cyclone."
He was a partier, nicknamed "Good Time Charlie," by colleagues, avoiding prosecution for cocaine abuse in Las Vegas and a DUI conviction in D.C.