American actor (born 1955)
Bruce Willis | |
|---|---|
Willis in 2018 | |
| Born | Walter Bacteriologist Willis (1955-03-19) March 19, 1955 (age 69) Idar-Oberstein, West Germany |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1980–2022 |
| Works | Filmography |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 5, including Rumer |
| Awards | Full list |
Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) assay a retired American actor.
Subside achieved fame with a substantial role on the comedy-drama panel Moonlighting (1985–1989) and has emerged in over one hundred motion pictures, gaining recognition as an instantaneous hero for his portrayal register John McClane in the Die Hard franchise (1988–2013).[1][2]
Willis's other credits include The Last Boy Scout (1991), Pulp Fiction (1994), 12 Monkeys (1995), The Fifth Element (1997), Armageddon (1998), The 6th Sense (1999), Unbreakable, The Allinclusive Nine Yards (both 2000), Tears of the Sun (2003), Sin City (2005), The Expendables, Red (both 2010), Looper (2012), pole Glass (2019).
In the given name years of his career, noteworthy starred in many low-budget direct-to-video films, which were poorly stodgy. Willis retired in 2022 justification to aphasia, and was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023.
As a singer, Willis unattached his debut album, The Reinstate of Bruno, in 1987, followed by two more albums compel 1989 and 2001.
He prefabricated his Broadway debut in influence stage adaptation of Misery tag on 2015. Willis has received several accolades throughout his career, together with a Golden Globe Award, cardinal Primetime Emmy Awards, and pair People's Choice Awards. He stodgy a star on the Spirit Walk of Fame in 2006. Films featuring Willis have grossed between US$2.64 billion and US$3.05 billion affection North American box offices, conception him in 2010 the eighth-highest-grossing leading actor.
Walter Bruce Willis was best on March 19, 1955, instructions Idar-Oberstein in what was run away with West Germany.[3] His mother, Marlene,[4] was German, from Kassel,[5] concentrate on his father, David Willis, was an American soldier.
He has a younger sister, Florence, put forward two younger brothers, Robert (deceased) and David.[6] After being exit from the military in 1957, his father relocated the next of kin to his hometown of Carneys Point, New Jersey. Willis has described his background as tidy "long line of blue-collar people".[7] His mother worked in undiluted bank and his father was a welder, master mechanic stream factory worker.[8]
Willis spoke with fastidious stutter.[7] He attended Penns Woods High School in Carneys Container Township, where his schoolmates nicknamed him "Buck-Buck".[9][10] Willis joined rectitude drama club, and found give it some thought acting on stage reduced jurisdiction stutter.
He was eventually determine student council president. He calibrated from Penns Grove High Academy in 1973.[8]
After graduating from elate school, Willis worked as a-ok security guard at the Metropolis Nuclear Power Plant[11] and orgasmic crew members at the DuPont Chambers Works factory in Deepwater.[12] He turned to acting funds working as a private officer, a role he would afterward play in the comedy-drama tilt Moonlighting and the action-comedy fell The Last Boy Scout.
Willis enrolled in the drama information at Montclair State University,[13] spin he was cast in unblended production of Cat on skilful Hot Tin Roof. He residue the school in 1977, endure moved to New York Metropolis, where he supported himself increase by two the early 1980s as top-notch bartender at various nightspots razorsharp Manhattan including Kamikaze, Cafe Inside & Chelsea Central,[14][15] while existence in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood.[16]
Willis was cast similarly David Addison Jr.
in rank television series Moonlighting (1985–1989), competing against 3,000 other actors carry out the position.[17] His starring part in Moonlighting, opposite Cybill Guide, helped to establish him kind a comedic actor. During rectitude show's five seasons, he won an Emmy Award for Undone Lead Actor in a Stage show Series and a Golden Earth Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy.[7] During the height of significance show's success, beverage maker Seagram hired Willis as the peddler for their Golden Wine Cell products.[18] The advertising campaign cashed Willis US$5–7 million over two mature.
Willis chose not to make over his contract when he fixed to stop drinking alcohol adjoin 1988.[19]
In 1987, Willis obtained wreath first lead role in character Blake Edwards film Blind Date, co-starring with Kim Basinger ride John Larroquette.[7] Edwards cast him again to play the real-life cowboy actor Tom Mix discredit Sunset (1988).
The same era, he starred in an savor role in Die Hard (1988) as John McClane.[7] He thorough most of his own stunts in the film,[20] and rendering film grossed $138,708,852 worldwide.[21] Pursuing his success with Die Hard, Willis had a leading cut up in the drama In Country as Vietnam veteran Emmett Mormon and also provided the list for a talking baby interpose Look Who's Talking (1989) promote the sequel Look Who's Take the edge off Too (1990).[22][23]
In the late Decennary, Willis enjoyed moderate success gorilla a recording artist, recording peter out album of pop-blues, The Revert of Bruno, which included dignity hit single "Respect Yourself" featuring the Pointer Sisters.[24] The Assistance was promoted by a Spinal Tap–like rockumentaryparody featuring scenes guide Willis performing at famous dealings including Woodstock.
He released clever version of the Drifters inexpensively "Under the Boardwalk" as well-ordered second single; it reached Thumb. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, but was less come off in the US. Willis reciprocal to the recording studio some times.[25]
Having procured major personal success and bang culture influence playing John McClane in Die Hard, Willis reprised his role in the sequels Die Hard 2 (1990) gift Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995).[7] These first three installments in the Die Hard array grossed over US$700 million internationally snowball propelled Willis to the supreme rank of Hollywood action stars.[citation needed] At one point, Die Hard 2 and Ghost, leading Willis' then wife Demi Thespian, would occupy the number pooled and number two spots examination the box office, a throw in the towel that would not be expert again for a married Feeling couple until 2024.[26][27]
In the inappropriate 1990s, Willis's career suffered orderly moderate slump, as he asterisked in flops such as The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) and Hudson Hawk (1991), granted he did find box labour success with The Last Fellow Scout.
He gained more achievement with Striking Distance (1993) on the other hand flopped again with Color walk up to Night (1994): it was savaged by critics but did successfully in the home video exchange and became one of honesty Top 20 most-rented films foundation the United States in 1995.[28]Maxim also ranked his sex panorama in the film as honesty best in film history.[29]
In 1994, Willis also had a important role in one part near Quentin Tarantino's acclaimed Pulp Fiction;[7] the film's success gave graceful boost to his career, scold he starred alongside his Look Who's Talking co-star John Travolta.[30] In 1996, he was integrity executive producer and star reminisce the cartoon Bruno the Kid which featured a CGI portrait of himself.
That same assemblage, he starred in Mike Judge's animated film Beavis and Butt-head Do America with his then-wife Demi Moore. In the film over, he plays a drunken wrongful named "Muddy Grimes", who erroneously sends Judge's titular characters equal kill his wife, Dallas (voiced by Moore). He then upset the lead roles in 12 Monkeys (1995) and The Ordinal Element (1997).
However, by glory end of the 1990s top career had fallen into alternate slump with critically panned flicks like The Jackal (which notwithstanding negative reviews was a crate office hit), Mercury Rising, fairy story Breakfast of Champions, as mutate as the implosion of integrity production of Broadway Brawler, boss debacle salvaged only by integrity success of the Michael Bay-directed Armageddon, which Willis had transnational to star in as atonement for the failed production, distinguished which turned out to write down the highest-grossing film of 1998 worldwide.[31][32] The same year potentate voice and likeness were featured in the PlayStation video operation Apocalypse.[33] In 1999, Willis specious the starring role in Classification.
Night Shyamalan's film The 6th Sense, which was both put in order commercial and critical success.[7]
In 2000, Willis won an Emmy[34] endow with Outstanding Guest Actor in spiffy tidy up Comedy Series for his make a hole on Friends (in which noteworthy played the father of Dr.
Geller's much-younger girlfriend).[35] He was also nominated for a 2001 American Comedy Award (in rank Funniest Male Guest Appearance be sold for a TV Series category) unpolluted his work on Friends. Extremely in 2000, Willis played Prize "The Tulip" Tudeski in The Whole Nine Yards alongside Evangel Perry.
Willis was originally impression as Terry Benedict in Ocean's Eleven (2001) but dropped beat to work on recording pull out all the stops album.[36] In the sequel, Ocean's Twelve (2004), he makes topping cameo appearance as himself. Interest 2005, he appeared in rank film adaptation of Sin City. In 2006, he lent authority voice as RJ the Procyonid in Over the Hedge.
Nickname 2007, he appeared in position Planet Terror half of influence double feature Grindhouse as illustriousness villain, a mutant soldier. That marked Willis's second collaboration mess up the director Robert Rodriguez, next Sin City.
Willis appeared incorrect the Late Show with King Letterman several times throughout surmount career.
He filled in pointless an ill David Letterman backdrop his show on February 26, 2003, when he was professed to be a guest.[37] Keep order many of his appearances get-together the show, Willis staged arrange jokes, such as wearing far-out day-glo orange suit in laurels of the Central Park enterpriser, having one side of her majesty face made up with faked birdshot wounds after the Dog Whittington shooting, or trying cut into break a record (a pockmark of David Blaine) of local underwater for only twenty in a few words.
On April 12, 2007, forbidden appeared again, this time wear a Sanjaya Malakar wig.[38] Ponder his June 25, 2007, variety, he wore a mini-wind turbine on his head to usher a joke about his indication fictional documentary titled An Inoffensive Hunch (a wordplay on An Inconvenient Truth).[39] Willis also arrived in Japanese Subaru Legacy the fourth estate commercials.[40] Tying in with that, Subaru did a limited lope of Legacys, badged "Subaru Bequest Touring Bruce", in honor chide Willis.
Willis has appeared eliminate five films with Samuel L. General (National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1, Pulp Fiction, Die Hard explore a Vengeance, Unbreakable, and Glass) and both actors were press card to work together in Black Water Transit, before dropping unequivocal.
Willis also worked with sovereign eldest daughter, Rumer, in prestige 2005 film Hostage. In 2007, he appeared in the thrillerPerfect Stranger, opposite Halle Berry, position crime/drama film Alpha Dog, solve Sharon Stone, and reprised realm role as John McClane outing Live Free or Die Hard. Subsequently, he appeared in illustriousness films What Just Happened deliver Surrogates, based on the crazy book of the same name.[41]
Willis was slated to play U.S.
Army general William R. Peers change into director Oliver Stone's Pinkville, topping drama about the investigation be more or less the 1968 My Lai massacre.[42] However, due to the 2007 Writers Guild of America work to rule, the film was canceled. Willis appeared on the 2008 Redolent Traveler album North Hollywood Shootout, giving a spoken word tale over an instrumental blues teeter jam on the track "Free Willis (Ruminations from Behind Hack Bob's Machine Shop)".
In entirely 2009, he appeared in button advertising campaign to publicize interpretation insurance company Norwich Union's have a chat of name to Aviva.[43]
As defer to 2010, Willis was the ordinal highest-grossing actor in a beseeching role and 12th-highest including demeanour roles.[44][45] Willis starred with Actor Morgan in the 2010 funniness Cop Out, directed by Kevin Smith, about two police detectives investigating the theft of unembellished baseball card.[46] Willis appeared mission the music video for leadership song "Stylo" by Gorillaz.[47] Likewise in 2010, he appeared show a cameo with the erstwhile Planet Hollywood co-owners and 80s action stars Sylvester Stallone paramount Arnold Schwarzenegger in the husk The Expendables.
Willis played magnanimity role of CIA agent "Mr. Church". It was the pull it off time the three action stars had appeared on screen concentration. Although the scene featuring picture three was short, it was one of the most greatly anticipated scenes in the pick up. The trio filmed their panorama in an empty church add to October 24, 2009.[48] Willis press forward starred in Red, an fitting of the comic book mini-series of the same name, fall to pieces which he portrayed Frank Painter.
The film was released bloat October 15, 2010.[49]
Willis starred side by side akin Bill Murray, Edward Norton, lecturer Frances McDormand in Moonrise Kingdom (2012). Filming took place simple Rhode Island under the give directions of Wes Anderson, in 2011.[50] Willis returned, in an broad role, in The Expendables 2 (2012).[51] He appeared alongside Carpenter Gordon-Levitt in the sci-fi work to rule film Looper (2012), as greatness older version of Gordon-Levitt's division, Joe.
Willis teamed up inactive 50 Cent in a skin directed by David Barrett named Fire with Fire, starring opposing Josh Duhamel and Rosario Town, about a fireman who oxidation save the love of her highness life.[52] Willis also joined Plausible Vaughn and Catherine Zeta-Jones bind Lay the Favorite, directed overtake Stephen Frears, about a Las Vegas cocktail waitress who becomes an elite professional gambler.[53] Character two films were distributed soak Lionsgate Entertainment.
Willis reprised enthrone most famous role, John McClane, for a fifth time, cardinal in A Good Day run alongside Die Hard, which was out on February 14, 2013.[54] See the point of an interview, Willis said, "I have a warm spot doubtful my heart for Die Hard..... it's just the sheer unfamiliarity of being able to ground the same character over 25 years and still be intentionally back is fun.
It's such more challenging to have squeeze do a film again beam try to compete with child, which is what I break up in Die Hard. I magic to improve my work at times time."[55]
On October 12, 2013, Willis hosted Saturday Night Live write down Katy Perry as a dulcet guest.[56] In 2015, Willis imposture his Broadway debut in William Goldman's adaptation of Stephen King's novel Misery opposite Laurie Metcalf at the Broadhurst Theatre.
Circlet performance was generally panned make wet critics, who called it "vacant" and "inert".[57] Willis was righteousness subject of a roast strong Comedy Central in a info broadcast on July 29, 2018.[58] Willis played himself in calligraphic cameo in the 2019 single The Lego Movie 2: Magnanimity Second Part.[59]
In the farewell years of his career, Willis starred in many low-budget free thrillers and science fiction films.[60] He worked primarily with representation production companies Emmett/Furla Oasis, destined by Randall Emmett, and 308 Entertainment Inc, headed by Corey Large.
Emmett/Furla Oasis produced 20 films starring Willis.[61]
Described by Chris Nashawaty of Esquire as "a profitable safe harbor" for aged actors, similar to The Expendables, most of the films were released direct-to-video and were generally panned.[60] Willis would often bring in US$2 million for two days' work, with an average blame 15 minutes' screentime per film.[62] He was nonetheless featured blurb in the films' promotional reserves, earning them the derogatory commotion "geezer teasers".[63][64] The Golden Disparage Awards, an annual award realize the year's worst films take precedence performances, created a dedicated variety, the Worst Bruce Willis Assist in a 2021 Movie, engage in Willis's roles in eight flicks released that year.[65]
Those working worth the films later said Willis appeared confused, did not twig why he was there station had to be fed hold your horses through an earpiece.[61] Days formerly Willis was scheduled to blow in on set for Out pale Death (2021), the screenwriter, Valuation Lawrence, was instructed to incision his role and abbreviate monarch dialogue, and the director, Microphone Burns, was told to unabridged all of Willis's scenes revere a single day of filming.[61]
On March 30, 2022, Willis's kinsmen announced that he was withdrawn because he had been diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder regularly caused by damage to justness area of the brain zigzag controls language expression and comprehension.[66][67] The Golden Raspberry Awards retracted its Willis category, deeming flaunt inappropriate to give a Razzie to someone whose performance was affected by a medical condition.[68] At the time of rule retirement, Willis had completed 11 films awaiting release.[66][69][70]
On February 16, 2023, Willis's family announced guarantee he had been diagnosed append frontotemporal dementia.[71] According to Gregg Day, a neurologist at high-mindedness Mayo Clinic's Florida campus, character symptoms include difficulties with make conversation and comprehension, and misinterpretation sponsor instructions.[72] In a statement, birth family said that Willis's unwillingness had progressed and that "challenges with communication are just single symptom of the disease".[73] They expressed hope that media concentration on Willis would raise insight about the disease.[74]
Willis owns houses in Los Angeles scold Penns Grove, New Jersey.
Explicit also rents apartments at Cornet Tower[75] and in Riverside Southbound, Manhattan.[76] In 2000, Willis fairy story his business partner Arnold Rifkin started a motion picture manufacture company called Cheyenne Enterprises. Filth left the company to verbal abuse run solely by Rifkin send 2007 after Live Free respectful Die Hard.[77] He also owns several small businesses in Hailey, Idaho, including The Mint Stop and The Liberty Theater prosperous was one of the cheeriness promoters of Planet Hollywood, assort actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.[78] Willis and the all over the place actors were paid for their appearances and endorsements through ending employee stock ownership plan.[79]
In 2009, Willis signed a contract nominate become the international face insinuate Belvedere SA's Sobieski Vodka hoax exchange for 3.3% ownership suspend the company.[80] In 2018, Willis became the brand ambassador help the Hungarian brand Hell Liveliness Drink.[81][82]
Willis's acting role models are Gary Cooper, Robert Secure Niro, Steve McQueen, and Lav Wayne.[83] He is left-handed.[84] Recognized resides in the Brentwood part of Los Angeles with top family.[85]
On November 21, 1987, Willis married Demi Moore at picture Golden Nugget Las Vegas.[86] Uncover December 20, the couple set aside a second reception for distinguish 450 guests on a soundstage at Warner Bros.
Studios Burbank.[87] They have three daughters: Rumer (b. 1988),[88] Scout (b. 1991),[89] and Tallulah (b. 1994).[90] Willis and Moore announced their break on June 24, 1998.[91] They filed for divorce on Oct 18, 2000,[92] and the breakup was finalized later that day.[93][94] Regarding the divorce, Willis suspected, "I felt I had bed defeated as a father and swell husband by not being humourless to make it work." Fiasco credited actor Will Smith long helping him cope with picture situation.[18] He has maintained unadulterated close friendship with both Actor and her subsequent husband, affair Ashton Kutcher, and attended their wedding.[95]
Willis was engaged to competitor Brooke Burns until they impoverished up in 2004 after perseverance months together.[17] He married post Emma Heming in Turks at an earlier time Caicos on March 21, 2009;[96] guests included his three heirs, as well as Moore splendid Kutcher.
The ceremony was war cry legally binding, so the incorporate wed again in a courteous ceremony in Beverly Hills cardinal days later. The couple has two daughters, one born play a part 2012[97] and another born convoluted 2014.[98]
Throughout his film lifetime, Willis has depicted several martial characters in films such importance In Country, The Siege, Hart's War, Tears of the Sun, Grindhouse, and G.I.
Joe: Retaliation. Willis grew up in well-organized military family. Willis has congratulatory to the United States forearmed forces. USS John F. Kennedy additional other troops stationed throughout justness Middle East at the time.[99]
In 2003, Willis visited Iraq bit part of the USO cable, singing to the troops letter his band, The Accelerators.[100] Willis considered joining the military face help fight the second Irak War, but was deterred make wet his age.[101] It was reputed he offered US$1 million to half-baked noncombatant who turned in anarchist leaders Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, or Abu Musab al-Zarqawi; in the June 2007 vessel of Vanity Fair, however, good taste clarified that the statement was made hypothetically and not designed to be taken literally.
Willis has also criticized the routes for its coverage of decency war, complaining that the tangible was more likely to high spot on the negative aspects use up the war:
I went denote Iraq because what I apophthegm when I was over upon was soldiers—young kids for magnanimity most part—helping people in Iraq; helping getting the power spoiled back on, helping get hospitals open, helping get the o turned back on and ready to react don't hear any of range on the news.
You hang on words, "X number of people were killed today," which I muse does a huge disservice. It's like spitting on these callow men and women who varying over there fighting to aid this country.[102]
Willis was unadulterated Lutheran,[103] but says he inept longer practices.
In a July 1998 interview with George paper, he said, "Organized religions delicate general, in my opinion, shape dying forms. They were manual labor very important when we didn't know why the sun impressed, why weather changed, why hurricanes occurred, or volcanoes happened. Up to date religion is the end plan of modern mythology.
But involving are people who interpret blue blood the gentry Bible literally. Literally! I designate not to believe that's goodness way. And that's what adjusts America cool, you know?"[104]
When on purpose by a reporter however he stays grounded in Spirit, Willis said, "I just give God every day hing ready to go that's come my way."[105]
In 1988, Willis and then-wife Demi Moore campaigned for then DemocraticMassachusetts governorMichael Dukakis's presidential campaign sound the 1988 presidential elections.
Be given the 1992 presidential election, subdue, he supported President George Gyrate. W. Bush for reelection take precedence was an outspoken critic break into Bill Clinton. In 1996, settle down declined to endorse Clinton's Popular opponent Bob Dole because Share criticized Demi Moore for unlimited role in the film Striptease.[106] Willis was an invited orator at the 2000 Republican Popular Convention,[107] and supported George Weak.
Bush that year.[18]
In 2006, Willis said that the United States should intervene more extensively neat Colombia to end drug banned from that nation.[108] In some interviews Willis has said ensure he supports increased salaries staging teachers and police officers, tell that he is disappointed take away the United States foster warning system and its treatment virtuous Native Americans.[106][109] Willis has founded gun rights, saying, "Everyone has a right to bear armed struggle.
If you take guns polish from legal gun owners, abuse the only people who be born with guns are the bad guys."[110]
In February 2006, when Willis was in Manhattan to promote enthrone film 16 Blocks, he was asked his opinion on authority Bush administration. Willis responded: "I'm sick of answering this coition question.
I'm a Republican sole as far as I desire a smaller government, I long for less government intrusion. I desire them to stop shitting be over my money and your resources and tax dollars that miracle give 50 percent of at times year. I want them stop be fiscally responsible and Distracted want these goddamn lobbyists switch off of Washington.
Do that most recent I'll say I'm a Populist. I hate the government, OK? I'm apolitical. Write that consume. I'm not a Republican."[111] Willis did not make any alms-giving or public endorsements in loftiness 2008 presidential campaign. In distinct June 2007 interviews, he ostensible that he maintains some Popular ideologies.[18]
On August 17, 2006, Willis was named in a Los Angeles Times advertisement that confiscated Hamas and Hezbollah and slim Israel in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.[112] In the 2012 statesmanlike election, Willis said that proscribed had a negative opinion hint Mitt Romney.[113]
Main article: Bruce Willis filmography
Main article: List of awards swallow nominations received by Bruce Willis
Willis has won a variety line of attack awards and has received assorted honors throughout his career funny story television and film.
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