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The Story of Bruce Willis

The Story of Bruce Willis
Magazine

Bruce Willis superimposed wit and charm on an average build (and a balding pate) to become a box-office sensation. Playing David Addison Jr., a devilish detective-agency rogue opposite Cybill Shepherd’s Maddie Hayes in TV’s Moonlighting may have been his breakthrough, but becoming everyman action hero John McClane in 1988’s Die Hard made him a star. Then came more movies, an investment in a chain of restaurants, a side hustle as a singer and his self-admitted favorite role: father to five daughters in a loving, blended family. In this special issue, we look back on Willis’ incredible career and explore what his life is like now.

THE STORY OF BRUCE WILLIS

WHY WE LOVE BRUCE WILLIS

FINDING A HOME • An unassuming life in a factory job could have been Willis’ destiny, but the arts provided a safe place to dream and thrive

THE PEOPLE’S HERO

MIKEY

PETER FALLOW • THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES 1990

HUDSON HAWK • HUDSON HAWK 1991

JOE HALLENBECK • THE LAST BOY SCOUT 1991

DR. ERNEST MENVILLE • DEATH BECOMES HER 1992

BILL CAPA • COLOR OF NIGHT 1994

BUTCH COOLIDGE • PULP FICTION 1994

CARL ROEBUCK • NOBODY’S FOOL 1994

JAMES COLE • 12 MONKEYS 1995

KORBEN DALLAS • THE FIFTH ELEMENT 1997

HARRY S. STAMPER • ARMAGEDDON 1998

MALCOLM CROWE • THE SIXTH SENSE 1999

JIMMY TUDESKI

RUSS DURITZ • THE KID 2000

DAVID DUNN • UNBREAKABLE 2000

JOHN HARTIGAN

MR. GOODKAT • LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN 2006

FRANK MOSES • RED 2010 RED 2 2013

CAPTAIN SHARP • MOONRISE KINGDOM 2012

MR. CHURCH • THE EXPENDABLES 2010

OLD JOE • LOOPER 2012

ANYTHING GOES • Recording albums as an alter-ego named Bruno made Willis thrive in a quirky side hustle, but his recent prolific output of quality-variable films seems to suggest he just wanted to survive

SURROUND BY LOVE • The great romances in Willis’ life with Demi Moore and Emma Heming Willis have led to a blended family unique in Hollywood for its unity and openheartedness

THE LONG JOURNEY AHEAD • Relieved there is a name for their father’s condition, Willis’ family have rallied to help him with his diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia

A LEGACY TO MAKE YOU SMILE • Shaved heads, theme restaurants and rocking actors — Willis has made surprising contributions to pop culture

The Story of Bruce Willis

PHOTO CREDITS

Formats

  • OverDrive Magazine

Languages

  • English