Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955), better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor and producer. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles. He is well known for the role of John McClane in the Die Hard series, which were critical and financial successes. He has also appeared in over sixty films, including box office successes like Pulp Fiction, Sin City, 12 Monkeys, The Fifth Element, Armageddon, and The Sixth Sense.
Motion pictures featuring Willis have grossed US$ 2.55 to 3.05 billion at North American box offices, making him the seventh highest-grossing actor in a leading role, and ninth highest including supporting roles. Willis was married to actress Demi Moore and they had three daughters, before their divorce in 2000 after thirteen years of marriage. He is a two-time Emmy Award-winning, Golden Globe Award-winning, and four-time Saturn Award-nominated actor.
Trade Mark:
Frequently plays a man who suffered a tragedy, had lost something or had a crisis of confidence or conscience.
Shaven head.
Headlines action-adventures, often playing a cop, hitman or someone in the military.
Trivia:
Was high school student council president.
His recording of “Respect Yourself” reached #5 in January of 1987.
He and Demi Moore announce they are ending their marriage of 11 years. No reasons given. [24 June 1998]
Ranked #22 in Empire (UK) magazine’s “The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time” list. [October 1997]
Has three daughters with Demi Moore: Rumer Willis (b. 1988), Scout LaRue Willis (b. 1991) and Tallulah Belle Willis (b. 1994).
His mother Marlene was born in Kassel, Germany.
Appeared on “Late Show with David Letterman” (1993) to advertise for Demi Moore’s Striptease (1996) by doing his own undressing act. [1996]
As a young man his personality was very much like that of the character that he portrayed on “Moonlighting” (1985). He was always getting into trouble because of this and was bodily ejected from parties by the hosts for being obnoxious.
Has been very vocal in his support of almost every major Republican candidate in recent history except Bob Dole. He felt that presidential candidate Dole was out of line in his attacks on Demi Moore and her part in the movie Striptease (1996).
Was the first actor to ever “act” in a video game. No one before has ever done voice work along with having their movements digitally added to the game.
Stated he will no longer be doing violent action or “save-the-world” movies. [2001]
Wears his watch upside down with the face on the inside of his hand. This is also visible in many movies he’s done (Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995), Mercury Rising (1998), etc.) where they haven’t requested him to flip it over.
Memorial Day weekend, 1987: Was arrested after reportedly disturbing the peace and assaulting a police officer who was called to quiet a raucous party at his home. The charges were dropped after Willis agreed to apologize to his neighbors.
According to friends, he had a terrible stammer as a child.
Younger brother Robert died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 42. [2001]
Was originally cast as Terry Benedict in Ocean’s Eleven (2001) but dropped out.
Attended Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey.
Set a new benchmark for actors’ salaries when he was paid $5 million for Die Hard (1988) in 1988. Eight years later, his wife, Demi Moore, set a benchmark of $12 million with Striptease (1996).
His ineptness as a waiter forced him to become a bartender.
Was named Man of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals. [February 2002]
Was born on a military base in Germany.
Was president of a drama club at school.
Worked in a chemical factory before going to college.
He filled in as a last-minute host for David Letterman on February 26, 2003, a show he was supposed to be the guest for. It was Letterman’s first “sick day” in 20 years (other than his time off for heart surgery).
Ranked #3 in Star TV’s Top 10 Box Office Stars of the 1990s (2003).
Lives in Hailey, Idaho, where he owns The Mint bar and the Liberty Theater. He also owns the old Hailey Drug Store, but the building has been vacant and unused since the early 90s.
The scar on his right shoulder is from surgery due to complications from a broken arm when he was 17.
Personally recommended Bonnie Bedelia for the role of his estranged wife in Die Hard (1988).
He is the hero of singer Nick Lachey.
He ad-libbed many of John McClane’s one-liners in the “Die Hard” films.
Graduate of Penns Grove High School, Penns Grove, New Jersey. Class of 1973 who voted him “Most School Spirit.”
Recommended Michael Clarke Duncan to play the part of John Coffey in The Green Mile (1999).
20 October 2004 – Sued Revolution Studios for unspecified damages related to a blow to his forehead that he received during “ultrahazardous activity” involved in the filming of Tears of the Sun (2003). He claims that it has caused him extreme mental, physical and emotional pain and suffering.
Attended the Stella Adler Conservatory / Theatre program in New York City for three years.
Plays the harmonica.
France made him an officer in Order of Arts and Letters (April 2005). “France pays homage to an actor who represents the force of American cinema and the power of emotions that he invites us to share on screens throughout the world”, Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres said. “I’m nervous. Bonjour Paris,” he replied.
After dating Brooke Burns for ten months and finally being engaged to her they decided to split because of the difficulties with maintaining a long-distance relationship. (2 June 2004)
Was chosen to play John McClane in Die Hard (1988) because the producers felt he brought warmth and humor to an otherwise cold and humorless character. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone had turned down the role.
He has been special ambassador of his birth town Idar-Oberstein since his 50th birthday.
Was a guest at Demi Moore’s and Ashton Kutcher’s wedding.
Ten directors cast him at least twice in their films: Blake Edwards, Amy Heckerling, Rob Reiner, Robert Benton, John McTiernan, Alan Rudolph, M. Night Shyamalan, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, and Barry Levinson.
Along with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Charlton Heston, Willis was one of very few Hollywood celebrities to publicly support the Iraq war. While visiting the troops in 2003, he offered $1 million of his own money for the man who would capture Saddam Hussein. When Hussein was captured, it turned out that military rules prevent troops from collecting such a reward.
Served as a delegate at the Republican National Convention in 1992. In 2000 he was unable to narrate a biographical film of previous presidents to be shown at the RNC due to scheduling conflicts.
Has worked closely with two promising child stars: Miko Hughes in Mercury Rising (1998) and Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense (1999). The boys had major roles in the films opposite him.
Announced his intention to make a pro-war film in which American soldiers will be depicted as brave fighters for freedom and democracy. It will be based on the exploits of the heavily decorated members of “Deuce Four”, the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry, which has spent the past year battling insurgents in the northern Iraqi town of Mosul. Willis attended “Deuce Four”‘s homecoming ball this month in Seattle, Washington, where the soldiers are on leave, along with Stephen J. Eads, the producer of Armageddon (1998/I) and The Sixth Sense (1999). The actor said that he was in talks about a film of “these guys who do what they are asked to for very little money to defend and fight for what they consider to be freedom”. Willis is likely to take on the role of the unit’s commander, Lieutenant- Colonel Erik Kurilla (November 2005).
Honored in Paris for his contribution to the film industry, by the French government. The actor was made an Officier Dans L’ordre Des Arts Et Des Lettres (Officer In The Order Of Arts And Letters) at a ceremony in the capital, where he was presented with his honor by French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres. de Vabres said, “This is France’s way of paying tribute to an actor who epitomizes the strength of American cinema, the power of the emotions that he invites us to share on the world’s screens and the sturdy personalities of his legendary characters.” Willis replied in French that he was “very touched” to receive his medal, adding, “Thank you France and Culture Minister for this great, great honor.” (13 April 2005).
In November 2005 he offered $1 million of his own money to anyone who turns in al-Qaeda terror leaders Osama Bin Laden, Aiman Al-Zawaheri or ‘Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi’, the alleged brains behind the 9/11 attacks. Willis announced his reward on the US television show “Rita Cosby Live & Direct” (2005), where he also criticized what he claimed to be “biased” media coverage of the Iraq war.
Appointed by President George W. Bush as national spokesman for Children in Foster Care. (23 July 2002)
His performance as John McClane in the “Die Hard” trilogy is ranked #46 on Premiere Magazine’s 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
He and Linda Fiorentino were employed as bartenders in the early 1980s at the Kamikaze Club in New York City.
Little Richard presided over his wedding to Demi Moore and Ally Sheedy was one of the bridesmaids.
Married Demi Moore at the Golden Nugget Hotel in Las Vegas
Turned down the role of Sam Wheat in Ghost (1990) because he didn’t think the plot would work and that playing a ghost would be detrimental to his career. Ironically, he played a ghost in The Sixth Sense (1999), which was a critical success and is widely regarded as one of his best performances.
He apologized to Colombia after blaming the nation for America’s drug problems. The star insisted the United States is as much to blame for the prolific trade and confessed he didn’t mean to single out any one country as the supplier. He told the New York Daily News, “I said Colombia because it was the first country to come to mind.” The actor was dubbed “ignorant” and “ungrateful” by the Colombian president for his comments in March 2006, and advised not to base his arguments on “Hollywood clichés”.
In November 2000 he urged his fans to vote for Republican candidate George W. Bush in the presidential election. He told an interviewer, “If you guys vote for Al Gore, you’re out of your minds … Gore’s a knucklehead … just the lying and mendacity of the last eight years of the regime that Al Gore was a part and parcel of … I mean, there is only so much lying the American people will take before they go, ‘Uh, this doesn’t seem like a good idea.’ You have to look at what he does and what he stands for.”
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a ceremony attended by his friends Don Johnson, Sylvester Stallone and Kevin Costner. (16 October 2006).
Stepfather of his three daughters with Demi Moore is Ashton Kutcher.
Has three younger siblings: Florence, David and Robert.
In 1988 Willis attended a fundraiser for a Democrat running for US Senate. In the following year he and Demi Moore worked with legislator Tom Hayden to shut down a nuclear power plant in California. In a Playboy interview near that time, citing water pollution and ozone depletion, he noted, “We are literally destroying the planet.” He blasted then President Ronald Reagan for dubbing the Soviet Union “the evil empire.” He said military corporations had killed the Kennedy brothers and were “setting up [Vice President] Bush to be the next President.” Willis argued that “this country needs a leader who can say, ‘I want to help the people.’ ” Who did he have in mind? Hayden, as it turned out. Then, one presidential election later, Willis was at the Republican National Convention in Houston – backing Bush. In Armageddon (1998/I), Willis is first seen driving golf balls at a Greenpeace ship protesting oil drilling – a self-mocking reference to his politics but also a reminder of his own dramatic flip-flop.
Often supports the careers of other actors he has met on set, and asks they be given supporting roles on later films, most famously Michael Clarke Duncan, whom he worked with on The Whole Nine Yards (2000), asked for him on Armageddon (1998/I) and and suggested him to the producers of The Green Mile (1999). Other actors include Billy Bob Thornton (Armageddon (1998/I), Bandits (2003)), Johnny Messner (Tears of the Sun (2003), The Whole Ten Yards (2004)), Nick Chinlund (Tears of the Sun (2003), The Kid (2000)) and Cole Hauser (Hart’s War (2002), “Tears of the Sun” (2003)). Met and befriended Matthew Perry on the set of “The Whole Nine Yards” (2000) and then appeared on “Friends” (2000) at Perry’s request.
Has been in eleven movies with numbers in the title: The First Deadly Sin (1980), Twelve Monkeys (1995), Four Rooms (1995), The Fifth Element (1997), The Sixth Sense (1999), The Whole Nine Yards (2000), 16 Blocks (2006), The Whole Ten Yards (2004), Die Hard 2 (1990), Loaded Weapon 1 (1993) and Ocean’s Twelve (2004).
Has the distinction of playing two psychologists who have suffered serious work- related emotional trauma: “Dr. Bill Capa” in Color of Night (1994) and “Dr. Malcolm Crowe” in The Sixth Sense (1999). Ironically, Color of Night (1994) was a box-office bomb and was widely ridiculed by critics (this movie did much better business in home video market, though), while The Sixth Sense (1999) became a box-office smash and received several Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
During the Lebanon crisis Willis signed his name on an ad in the Los Angeles Times in support of Israel, along with Nicole Kidman and numerous other Hollywood celebrities.
He was the only celebrity that attended Julia Roberts’ wedding to Daniel Moder.
Huge supporter of NFL team New York Jets.
Co-founder of “Planet Hollywood” together with Demi Moore, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger (1991).
Has named his acting idols as Robert De Niro, Gary Cooper, Steve McQueen and John Wayne.
Endorsed his friend and former co-star Fred Dalton Thompson in his failed bid to win the Republican nomination for the 2008 presidential election.
Maxim magazine had named his sex scenes in Color of Night (1994) as the best sex scenes ever in film history.
Became the first actor to guest star in “Friends” (1994) and win an Emmy Award in the Outstanding Guest Actor category for their performance.
Was considered for the role of Kyle Reese in The Terminator (1984).
Thanked by Blink 182 in the liner notes of their album “Enema of the State”.
On March 21, 2009 Bruce married his girlfriend of a year, Emma Heming, at his home in Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos.
Among the guests at his wedding to Emma Heming were his three daughters, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Madonna.
He visited Michael Jackson on the set of filming the ‘Smooth Criminal’ segment for Moonwalker (1988). Also visiting the set was ‘Gregory Peck’ and Robert De Niro.
Was in consideration for the part of Lester Burnham in American Beauty (1999) but Kevin Spacey, who went on to win a Best Actor Oscar for his performance, was cast instead.
Co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson in 4 films: “Die Hard With a Vengeance” (1995), “National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon 1″ (1993), “Pulp Fiction” (1994), “Unbreakable” (2000).
Was friends with John Goodman during their NYC struggling actor days.
Admitted to Playboy Magazine in 1996 that he was once arrested at age 19 for possessing two joints.
Filmed his role in Mortal Thoughts in ten days.
Met Demi Moore at a screening of Emilio Estevez’s film Stakeout. Although she was seeing Estevez at the time, they married four months later.
Lives in Los Angeles, Malibu, California and Hailey, Idaho.
