Bruce Willis is an American actor who achieved international fame through his Emmy-winning role as David Addison in the television series Moonlighting (1985-1989) and his iconic portrayal of John McClane in the Die Hard franchise. Born in Germany and raised in New Jersey, Willis began his career in Off-Broadway productions before shifting to Hollywood, where he starred in acclaimed films including Pulp Fiction, The Sixth Sense, and Armageddon, establishing himself as one of cinema’s most recognizable action stars with films grossing over $2.6 billion at the North American box office before retiring in 2022 due to health concerns, though his four-decade entertainment legacy encompasses many fascinating chapters.
Willis attended Montclair State University but left to pursue acting, working various odd jobs including positions as a security guard and bartender before his acting break materialized. During the early 1980s, he began his professional acting career in Off-Broadway productions, developing the skills that would eventually propel him to international fame.
Willis worked security and bartended while honing his craft in Off-Broadway productions during the early 1980s before achieving stardom.
The actor achieved major recognition starring as David Addison in the television series *Moonlighting*, which aired from 1985 to 1989 and earned him an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe. The show received critical acclaim for its witty dialogue and the chemistry between its leads, establishing Willis’s reputation for delivering wisecracking, charismatic performances that would define much of his subsequent career.
*Moonlighting*’s success led directly to Hollywood opportunities, especially his iconic portrayal of John McClane in *Die Hard* in 1988, which catapulted him to global fame. Willis starred in five *Die Hard* films between 1988 and 2013, cementing his status as an action hero through additional roles in *Armageddon* (1998), *The Fifth Element* (1997), and *Red* (2010).
Beyond action films, Willis demonstrated considerable versatility through acclaimed performances in *Pulp Fiction* (1994), *The Sixth Sense* (1999), *12 Monkeys* (1995), and *Unbreakable* (2000), portraying both hard-edged and comedic characters with significant skill. He made his Broadway debut in 2015 in the psychological thriller “Misery,” based on Stephen King’s novel.
His extensive filmography includes over 100 appearances, with his films grossing between $2.64 billion and $3.05 billion at the North American box office by 2010, ranking him as the eighth-highest-grossing leading actor that year.
Willis received recognition through two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, two People’s Choice Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006. He also pursued music, releasing his debut album *The Return of Bruno* in 1987, followed by two additional albums. Willis was born in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany to an American soldier father and German mother before his family relocated to New Jersey.
His later career included appearances in direct-to-video films before retiring in 2022 due to an aphasia diagnosis. Willis was subsequently diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023, marking the end of a distinguished career spanning over four decades in entertainment.
