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