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Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is an internationally renowned American actor, made famous by his role of John McClane in the original Die Hard. He has since reprised the role in all of its sequels, something no other actor has accomplished in the series; Die Hard 2, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Live Free or Die Hard and A Good Day to Die Hard. He had previously confirmed there would be a sixth and final installment, titled Die Hardest. However, in 2022 he retired from acting amid health concerns.

Career

Willis has appeared in the number of successful movies, including The Last Boy Scout, Striking Distance, Pulp Fiction, 12 Monkeys, The Fifth Element, Armageddon, Mercury Rising, The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Sin City, The Whole Nine Yards and its sequel The Whole Ten Yards, Tears of the Sun, Hostage, 16 Blocks, The Expendables and it's sequel The Expendables 2, RED and its sequel RED 2, Looper, Moonrise Kingdom and G.I. Joe: Retaliation. He also had a lead voice acting role in Over the Hedge.

In 2022, Willis has retired from acting amid health concerns after being diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder caused by brain damage that affects a person’s ability to communicate. As of 2023, he is no longer verbal.

As John McClane

Willis was finally hired to interpret John McClane in the first Die Hard movie, in 1988, after director John McTiernan offered the script of the movie and thew the role to a variety of action stars, including Sylvester Stallone, Harrison Ford, and Don Johnson, all of whom turned it down.

Demographic data from CinemaScore helped persuade the studio and director John McTiernan to cast Willis. He was paid $5 million to star in the film, a figure virtually unheard of at the time for an actor who had starred in only one moderately successful film, and normally paid to the major stars of the time, such as Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty.

McClane's character role catapulted Willis to movie star and action hero status. After the success of the first Die Had film, Willis would reprise his role as John McClane in the four sequels, which also were box office successes.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1979 The Driller Killer Whitey
1979 Goldengirl Sheen
1979 The In-Laws Woody
1980 Cruising Larry
1980 Template:Sortname Man Entering Diner (uncredited)
1981 Prince of the City Extra
1982 Template:Sortname Courtroom Observer
1983 Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer Man Entering Diner UncreditedTemplate:Citation needed
1984 The Natural Moff
1987 Blind Date Walter Davis
1988 Sunset Tom Mix Also co-executive producer
Die Hard John McClane
1989 In Country Emmett Smith Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Look Who's Talking Mikey (voice)
That's Adequate Himself Mockumentary
1990 Die Hard 2 John McClane
Look Who's Talking Too Mikey (voice)
Template:Sortname Peter Fallow
1991 Mortal Thoughts James Urbanski
Hudson Hawk Eddie "Hudson Hawk" Hawkins Also writer
Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay
Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor
Billy Bathgate Bo Weinberg
Template:Sortname Joseph Cornelius "Joe" Hallenbeck Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo (shared with Damon Wayans)
1992 Template:Sortname Himself Cameo
Death Becomes Her Dr. Ernest Menville Nominated – American Comedy Award for Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role)
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actor
1993 Loaded Weapon 1 John McClane Uncredited cameoTemplate:Citation needed
Striking Distance Tom "Tommy" Hardy
1994 Color of Night Dr. Bill Capa Stinkers Bad Movie Award for Worst Actor
Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor
North Narrator
Pulp Fiction Butch Coolidge Nominated – Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nobody's Fool Carl Roebuck
1995 Die Hard with a Vengeance John McClane
Four Rooms Leo Uncredited
Segment: "The Man from Hollywood"
12 Monkeys James Cole Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actor
1996 Last Man Standing John Smith
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America Muddy Grimes (voice)
1997 Template:Sortname Korben Dallas Nominated – Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Actor
Template:Sortname The Jackal Nominated – Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor - Suspense
1998 Mercury Rising Art Jeffries Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor
Armageddon Harry S. Stamper Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor – Sci-Fi
Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actor
The Siege Major General William Devereaux Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor – Suspense
Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor
1999 Breakfast of Champions Dwayne Hoover
Franky Goes to Hollywood Himself Short film
Template:Sortname Dr. Malcolm Crowe Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor - Suspense
People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Star in a Drama
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo (shared with Haley Joel Osment)
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actor
Template:Sortname Ben Jordan
2000 Template:Sortname James Stefan "Jimmy the Tulip" Tudeski
Disney's The Kid Russell Morley "Russ" Duritz
Unbreakable David Dunn Nominated – Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor – Suspense
2001 Bandits Joe Blake
2002 Hart's War Col. William A. McNamara
True West Lee Filmed stage play
Template:Sortname Producer
Grand Champion Mr. Blandford
2003 Tears of the Sun Lieutenant A.K. Waters
Rugrats Go Wild Spike (voice) Nominated – Kids' Choice Award for Voice from an Animated Movie[1]
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle William Rose Bailey Uncredited[2]
2004 Template:Sortname James Stefan "Jimmy the Tulip" Tudeski
Ocean's Twelve Himself Cameo
2005 Hostage Jeff Talley Also producer
Sin City John Hartigan Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Nominated – Gold Derby Film Award for Best Ensemble Cast
2006 Alpha Dog Sonny Truelove
16 Blocks Jack Mosley Also producer
Fast Food Nation Harry Rydell
Lucky Number Slevin Mr. Goodkat
Template:Sortname Himself Documentary
Also executive producer
Over the Hedge RJ (voice) Nominated – Kids' Choice Award for Voice from an Animated Movie[3]
Hammy's Boomerang Adventure RJ (voice) Short film
2007 Template:Sortname Colonel Doug Masterson Uncredited[4]
Perfect Stranger Harrison Hill
Grindhouse: Planet Terror Lt. Muldoon
Nancy Drew Himself Uncredited cameo[5]
Live Free or Die Hard John McClane Nominated – National Movie Award for Best Performance by a Male
Nominated – People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Action Star
Nominated – People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Movie Star
2008 What Just Happened Himself
Assassination of a High School President Principal Kirkpatrick
2009 Surrogates Agent Tom Greer
2010 Cop Out Jimmy Monroe
Template:Sortname Mr. Church UncreditedTemplate:Citation needed
Red Francis "Frank" Moses
2011 Set Up Jack Biggs Direct-to-video
Catch .44 Mel Direct-to-video
The Black Mamba Mr. Suave Short film
2012 Moonrise Kingdom Captain Duffy Sharp Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Acting
Nominated – Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Ensemble Cast (2nd place)
Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Nominated – Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance
Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
Nominated – Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble(2nd place)
Nominated – St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Lay the Favorite Dink Heimowitz
Template:Sortname Mr. Church
Template:Sortname Martin
Looper Older Joe
Fire with Fire Mike Cella Direct-to-video
2013 A Good Day to Die Hard John McClane Also executive producer
G.I. Joe: Retaliation General Joseph Colton / G.I. Joe
Red 2 Francis "Frank" Moses
2014 Sin City: A Dame to Kill For John Hartigan
Template:Sortname Omar Direct-to-video
2015 Vice Julian Michaels Direct-to-video
Rock the Kasbah Bombay Brian [6]
Extraction Leonard Turner Direct-to-video
2016 Precious Cargo Eddie Pilosa Direct-to-video
Marauders Jeffrey Hubert Direct-to-video
Split David Dunn Uncredited
2017 Once Upon a Time in Venice Steve Direct-to-video
First Kill Police Chief Marvin Howell Direct-to-video
2018 The Bombing Jack Post-production[7]
Death Wish Paul Kersey
Acts of Violence Detective James Avery Direct-to-video
Reprisal James Direct-to-video
2019 Glass David Dunn Post-production[8]
TBA Over the Hedge 2 RJ

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1980 Template:Sortname Extra UncreditedTemplate:Citation needed
Television film
1984 Miami Vice Tony Amato Episode: "No Exit"
1985 Template:Sortname Peter Novins Episode: "Shatterday"
Moonlighting David Addison Jr. 65 episodes (1985-1989)
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1987)
People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Program(1986)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1987)
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1986, 1988)
Nominated – People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer (1986, 1987)
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1986)
1987 Template:Sortname Bruno Radolini Television film
Nominated – CableACE Award for Writing a Music Special or Series
1989 Roseanne Himself Episode: "Dear Mom and Dad"
Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Bruce Willis/Neil Young"
1996–1997 Bruno the Kid Bruno the Kid (voice) 36 episodes
Also executive producer
1997 Mad About You Himself Episode: "The Birth Part 2"
1999 Ally McBeal Dr. Nickle UncreditedTemplate:Citation needed
Episode: "Love Unlimited"
2000 Friends Paul Stevens 3 episodes
Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Nominated – American Comedy Award for Funniest Male Guest Appearance in a TV Series
2005 That '70s Show Vic Episode: "Misfire"
2013 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Bruce Willis/Katy Perry"

Music videos

Year Artist Title Role
2010 Gorillaz "Stylo" Driver

Video games

Year Video Game Voice role
1998 Apocalypse Trey Kincaid

Stage

Year Title Role Venue
2015–2016 Misery Paul Sheldon Broadhurst Theater

External Links

  1. "Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Press site — Kids' Choice Awards 2004". Nickelodeon. Retrieved on November 10, 2015.
  2. "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle Template:Resize". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved on November 10, 2015. "Watch out for several cameos from the likes of Bruce Willis,…"
  3. Template:Cite news
  4. "The Movie: The Astronaut Farmer". visimag.com. Retrieved on August 25, 2015.
  5. "Nancy Drew". CinemaBlend. Retrieved on August 25, 2015.
  6. "All Time Box Office — Worst Wide Openings Template:Resize". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on November 14, 2015.
  7. James Rainey (June 3, 2015). "Bruce Willis to Star in Chinese-Language Epic ‘The Bombing’". variety.com. Retrieved on June 8, 2015.
  8. Template:Cite news
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