Bruce Willis is a name that many people would include on their list of top-tier performers in Hollywood. He is most known for his performances in action films, although he has demonstrated a wide range of talents, participating in films and television series of many genres and even singing. Willis is also admired for his exceptional skills as a spouse and parent.
Willis was born on March 19, 1955, in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, as Walter Bruce Willis. He was raised by a German mom and an American dad who was serving in the US military at the time of his birth. The family relocated to the United States and brought Willis up in Penns Grove, New Jersey.
Willis found his love of performing in his teens, when he joined his high school’s dramatic arts program. He eventually relocated to New York City and acted in a few off-Broadway shows before settling into a career in television and cinema.
He made his debut in 1985 with the television series “Moonlighting,” and he has since acted in over 70 films. Amongst of his most well-known roles include his brief appearance on the sitcom “Friends,” his role in “The Sixth Sense,” and his portrayal of John McClane in the “Die Hard” trilogy.
Willis declared his retirement from acting in late March 2022 owing to cognitive health difficulties. Unfortunately, these were faults that many had noted in the past, regrettably highlighting the actor’s downfall.
Willis has been a major presence in the acting industry for more than 40 years, which is the reason fans and loved ones were devastated when he announced his retirement. Willis performed in a number of films and television series during his acting career. “Pulp Fiction,” “Armageddon,” “The Sixth Sense,” “Looper,” and the “Die Hard” trilogy are among his most successful films.
Willis molded the concept of the American action hero as John McClane. The soiled undershirt he wore as the character became cultural property and is currently on display at the National Museum of American History.
Willis has had some highs and lows in his personal life when it comes to seeking love. He has been married twice and has five children. Willis married Demi Moore in 1987, and the couple produced three daughters: Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah. Despite the fact that the pair was considered as a Hollywood power couple at the time, the marriage was not going well behind closed doors. Willis and Moore separated in 2000, but they have stayed friends and excellent co-parents ever since.
Willis wedded his second wife, model Emma Heming, in 2009. His ex-wife and her then-husband, Ashton Kutcher, were among his wedding guests. Willis and Heming are still happily married today and have two additional children, Mabel and Evelyn Penn.
While several of his films garnered him fame and income, the “Die Hard” trilogy is without a doubt responsible for a large portion of Willis’ fortune. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he made more than $50 million for each of his four films and has a net worth of $250 million.
Willis will always be remembered as a legend, however when asked what he is most known for, he said, “Violence, laughter, and ‘Looper.'” Nonetheless, the retired actor revealed that he can’t help but use his popular expression now and then: “Yippee ki yay!”
Willis’ retirement was announced on March 30, 2022, leaving the world in shock. Both Heming and Moore shared the identical Instagram photo and statement, stating that Willis had been diagnosed with aphasia and needed to take a break from acting.
Aphasia is a language problem caused by injury to a specific region of the brain that governs language expression and understanding, according to John Hopkins. This disease renders an individual incapable to interact successfully with others and, in some cases, causes the affected to incorrectly comprehend the words of others.
Willis was suffering cognitive challenges prior to his family stepping in to take care of him. He had difficulty remembering his lines and was absolutely unable to do so. According to one source, they were all aware that Bruce was suffering from cognitive issues. Everyone in the cast and crew was aware. His family has stepped in, and they have moved in to care for him.
Willis was wearing earpieces so that his lines could be supplied to him while on site. He was also said to have used one for his Broadway debut in “Misery” in 2015, however sources said this was more due to Willis being “anxious” about script changes than anything else.
However, Willis used a body double for several of his sequences in more recent films since having him on screen was becoming increasingly problematic. Willis was said to have filmed for three days for one assignment. “It was evident he was having difficulties… he couldn’t act anymore,” the person said.
While Willis does not have any new films in the works, he does have a couple completed or in the post-production phases, which means fans of the actor will still get fresh material in the following year or two. Among these planned movies are “Vendetta,” “Fortress: Sniper’s Eye,” and “Wire Room.”
Willis’ family has been tremendously supportive throughout this difficult time. In their Instagram posts, Heming and Moore composed: “To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”
They proceeded: “This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him.”
The post finished up, “As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up,’ and together we plan to do just that.”
