Bruce Willis
After years of odd jobs and stage work, Willis was cast as wisecracking detective David Addison on the TV series 'Moonlighting' in 1985, opposite Cybill Shepherd. The show made him a star and led directly to the role that defined him: NYPD cop John McClane in 'Die Hard' (1988), which reinvented the action hero as a vulnerable, joking everyman.
From Stutter to Stardom
Born on a military base in Germany and raised in New Jersey, Willis worked as a security guard and bartender while pursuing acting. He overcame a youthful stutter on stage before landing 'Moonlighting,' the role that launched his career.
The Reluctant Action Hero
As John McClane in 'Die Hard,' Willis traded the muscle-bound archetype for a sweaty, wisecracking everyman in over his head. He balanced blockbusters like 'Armageddon' with acclaimed dramatic turns in 'Pulp Fiction,' '12 Monkeys,' and 'The Sixth Sense.'
Stepping Away
After decades as one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, Willis retired in 2022 following an aphasia diagnosis. In 2023 his family revealed he has frontotemporal dementia, sparking wide awareness of the condition.
Career Timeline
- 1955Born in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany, to a military family
- 1957Family relocates to New Jersey
- 1985Cast as David Addison on TV's 'Moonlighting'
- 1987Marries actress Demi Moore
- 1988Stars as John McClane in 'Die Hard'
- 1994Appears in Tarantino's 'Pulp Fiction'
- 1999Stars in M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Sixth Sense'
- 2009Marries model Emma Heming
- 2022Retires from acting after aphasia diagnosis
- 2023Family announces frontotemporal dementia diagnosis
Biggest Hits
- Willis released a 1987 R&B album, 'The Return of Bruno,' that produced a Top 5 hit cover of 'Respect Yourself.'
- He overcame a childhood stutter through acting, finding that performing on stage made the stammer disappear.
Portrait: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons