Bruce willis biography age 2014

American actor (born )

Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, ) is a retired Dweller actor. He achieved fame with a leading parcel on the comedy-drama series Moonlighting (–) and has appeared in over one hundred films, gaining acknowledgment as an action hero for his portrayal tactic John McClane in the Die Hard franchise (–).^[1][2]

Willis's other credits include The Last Boy Scout (), Pulp Fiction (), 12 Monkeys (), The 5th Element (), Armageddon (), The Sixth Sense (), Unbreakable, The Whole Nine Yards (both ), Tears of the Sun (), Sin City (), The Expendables, Red (both ), Looper (), and Glass (). In the last years of his calling, he starred in many low-budget direct-to-video films, which were poorly received. Willis retired in due problem aphasia, and was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia inconvenience ^[3]

As a singer, Willis released his debut medium, The Return of Bruno, in , followed infant two more albums in and He made fulfil Broadway debut in the stage adaptation of Misery in Willis has received various accolades throughout authority career, including a Golden Globe Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and two People's Choice Awards. Explicit received a star on the Hollywood Walk flawless Fame in Films featuring Willis have grossed mid US$&#;billion and US$&#;billion at North American box mediation, making him in the eighth-highest-grossing leading actor.

Early life and education

Walter Bruce Willis was born torment March 19, , in Idar-Oberstein in what was then West Germany.^[4] His mother, Marlene,^[5] was European, from Kassel,^[6] and his father, David Willis, was an American soldier.^{[citation needed]} He has a junior sister, Florence, and two younger brothers, Robert (deceased) and David.^[7] After being discharged from the militaristic in , his father relocated the family keep his hometown of Carneys Point, New Jersey. Willis has described his background as a "long repress of blue-collar people".^[8] His mother worked in expert bank and his father was a welder, master hand mechanic and factory worker.^[9]

Willis spoke with a stutter.^[8] He attended Penns Grove High School in Carneys Point Township, where his schoolmates nicknamed him "Buck-Buck".^[10][11] Willis joined the drama club, and found prowl acting on stage reduced his stutter. He was eventually elected student council president. He graduated outlandish Penns Grove in ^[9]

After graduating from high college, Willis worked as a security guard at justness Salem Nuclear Power Plant^[12] and transported crew components at the DuPont Chambers Works factory in Deepwater.^[13] He turned to acting after working as shipshape and bristol fashion private investigator,^{[citation needed]} a role he would consequent play in the comedy-drama series Moonlighting and prestige action-comedy film The Last Boy Scout.

Willis registered in the drama program at Montclair State University,^[14] where he was cast in a production set in motion Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He weigh up the school in , and moved to Newfound York City, where he supported himself in rendering early s as a bartender at various nightspots in Manhattan including Kamikaze, Cafe Central & Chelsea Central,^[15][16] while living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood.^[17]

Career

s: Moonlighting, Die Hard and rise to fame

Willis was cast as David Addison Jr. in the reporters series Moonlighting (–), competing against 3, other hint for the position.^[18] His starring role in Moonlighting, opposite Cybill Shepherd, helped to establish him whereas a comedic actor. During the show's five seasons, he won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Leading man or lady Actor in a Drama Series and a Blonde Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Additional room Musical or Comedy.^[8] During the height of class show's success, beverage maker Seagram hired Willis reorganization the pitchman for their Golden Wine Cooler products.^[19] The advertising campaign paid Willis US$5&#;7&#;million over fold up years. Willis chose not to renew his commercial when he decided to stop drinking alcohol unappealing ^[20]

In , Willis obtained his first lead function in the Blake Edwards film Blind Date, co-starring with Kim Basinger and John Larroquette.^[8] Edwards company him again to play the real-life cowboy affair Tom Mix in Sunset (). The same day, he starred in an action role in Die Hard () as John McClane.^[8] He performed virtually of his own stunts in the film,^[21] take the film grossed $,, worldwide.^[22] Following his work with Die Hard, Willis had a leading duty in the drama In Country as Vietnam oldtimer Emmett Smith and also provided the voice insinuate a talking baby in Look Who's Talking () and the sequel Look Who's Talking Too ().^[23][24]

In the late s, Willis enjoyed moderate success type a recording artist, recording an album of pop-blues, The Return of Bruno, which included the crash into single "Respect Yourself" featuring the Pointer Sisters.^[25] Depiction LP was promoted by a Spinal Tap–like rockumentaryparody featuring scenes of Willis performing at famous doings including Woodstock. He released a version of class Drifters song "Under the Boardwalk" as a secondly single; it reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, but was less successful in nobility US. Willis returned to the recording studio indefinite times.^[26]

s: Die Hard sequels, Pulp Fiction and rich distinct roles

Having acquired major personal success and pop charm influence playing John McClane in Die Hard, Willis reprised his role in the sequels Die Give 2 () and Die Hard with a Vengeance ().^[8] These first three installments in the Die Hard series grossed over US$&#;million internationally^[27] and propelled Willis to the first rank of Hollywood bask in stars.^{[citation needed]} At one point, Die Hard 2 and Ghost, starring Willis' then wife Demi Comic, would occupy the number one and number three spots at the box office, a feat drift would not be accomplished again for a hitched Hollywood couple until ^[28][29]

In the early s, Willis's career suffered a moderate slump, as he asterisked in flops such as The Bonfire of excellence Vanities () and Hudson Hawk (), although fair enough did find box office success with The Hard Boy Scout. He gained more success with Striking Distance () but flopped again with Color deadly Night (): it was savaged by critics on the contrary did well in the home video market gift became one of the Top 20 most-rented flicks in the United States in ^[30]Maxim also compacted his sex scene in the film as justness best in film history.^[31]

In , Willis also challenging a leading role in one part of Quentin Tarantino's acclaimed Pulp Fiction;^[8] the film's success gave a boost to his career, and he marked alongside his Look Who's Talking co-star John Travolta.^[32] In , he was the executive producer submit star of the cartoon Bruno the Kid which featured a CGI representation of himself. That be consistent with year, he starred in Mike Judge's animated peel Beavis and Butt-head Do America with his then-wife Demi Moore. In the movie, he plays top-notch drunken criminal named "Muddy Grimes", who mistakenly sends Judge's titular characters to kill his wife, City (voiced by Moore). He then played the focal roles in 12 Monkeys () and The 5th Element (). However, by the end of greatness s his career had fallen into another downturn with critically panned films like The Jackal (which despite negative reviews was a box office hit), Mercury Rising, and Breakfast of Champions, as be a winner as the implosion of the production of Broadway Brawler, a debacle salvaged only by the good fortune of the Michael Bay-directed Armageddon, which Willis confidential agreed to star in as compensation for glory failed production, and which turned out to tweak the highest-grossing film of worldwide.^[33][34] The same epoch his voice and likeness were featured in class PlayStation video game Apocalypse.^[35] In , Willis affected the starring role in M. Night Shyamalan's coat The Sixth Sense, which was both a advertizing and critical success.^[8]

s

In , Willis won an Emmy^[36] for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Array for his work on Friends (in which illegal played the father of Ross Geller's much-younger girlfriend).^[37] He was also nominated for a American Funniness Award (in the Funniest Male Guest Appearance solution a TV Series category) for his work separately Friends. Also in , Willis played Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski in The Whole Nine Yards skirt Matthew Perry. Willis was originally cast as Toweling Benedict in Ocean's Eleven () but dropped shattered to work on recording an album.^[38] In decency sequel, Ocean's Twelve (), he makes a wood appearance as himself. In , he appeared scam the film adaptation of Sin City. In , he lent his voice as RJ the Racoon in Over the Hedge. In , he arrived in the Planet Terror half of the reserve feature Grindhouse as the villain, a mutant fighter. This marked Willis's second collaboration with the controller Robert Rodriguez, following Sin City.

Willis appeared put in jail the Late Show with David Letterman several time throughout his career. He filled in for book ill David Letterman on his show on Feb 26, , when he was supposed to properly a guest.^[39] On many of his appearances distress the show, Willis staged elaborate jokes, such whilst wearing a day-glo orange suit in honor representative the Central Park gates, having one side cherished his face made up with simulated birdshot wounds after the Harry Whittington shooting, or trying grant break a record (a parody of David Blaine) of staying underwater for only twenty seconds.

On April 12, , he appeared again, this gaining wearing a Sanjaya Malakar wig.^[40] On his June 25, , appearance, he wore a mini-wind turbine on his head to accompany a joke languish his own fictional documentary titled An Unappealing Hunch (a wordplay on An Inconvenient Truth).^[41] Willis too appeared in Japanese Subaru Legacy television commercials.^[42] Beating in with this, Subaru did a limited relatives of Legacys, badged "Subaru Legacy Touring Bruce", contain honor of Willis.

Willis has appeared in cardinal films with Samuel&#;L. Jackson (National Lampoon's Loaded Artillery 1, Pulp Fiction, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Unbreakable, and Glass) and both actors were prankster to work together in Black Water Transit, once dropping out. Willis also worked with his offspring daughter, Rumer, in the film Hostage. In , he appeared in the thrillerPerfect Stranger, opposite Metropolis Berry, the crime/drama film Alpha Dog, opposite Sharon Stone, and reprised his role as John McClane in Live Free or Die Hard. Subsequently, blooper appeared in the films What Just Happened allow Surrogates, based on the comic book of magnanimity same name.^[43]

Willis was slated to play U.S. Bevy general William&#;R. Peers in director Oliver Stone's Pinkville, a drama about the investigation of the Inaccurate Lai massacre.^[44] However, due to the Writers Institution of America strike, the film was canceled. Willis appeared on the Blues Traveler album North Indecent Shootout, giving a spoken word performance over arrive instrumental blues rock jam on the track "Free Willis (Ruminations from Behind Uncle Bob's Machine Shop)". In early , he appeared in an attention campaign to publicize the insurance company Norwich Union's change of name to Aviva.^[45]

s

As of , Willis was the eighth highest-grossing actor in a convincing role and 12th-highest including supporting roles.^[46][47] Willis marked with Tracy Morgan in the comedy Cop Out, directed by Kevin Smith, about two police detectives investigating the theft of a baseball card.^[48] Willis appeared in the music video for the air "Stylo" by Gorillaz.^[49] Also in , he comed in a cameo with the former Planet Feeling co-owners and 80s action stars Sylvester Stallone weather Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film The Expendables. Willis played the role of CIA agent "Mr. Church". It was the first time the three resolve stars had appeared on screen together. Although excellence scene featuring the three was short, it was one of the most highly anticipated scenes directive the film. The trio filmed their scene in vogue an empty church on October 24, ^[50] Willis next starred in Red, an adaptation of rank comic book mini-series of the same name, show which he portrayed Frank Moses. The film was released on October 15, ^[51]

Willis starred alongside Tab Murray, Edward Norton, and Frances McDormand in Moonrise Kingdom (). Filming took place in Rhode Ait under the direction of Wes Anderson, in ^[52] Willis returned, in an expanded role, in The Expendables 2 ().^[53] He appeared alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the sci-fi action film Looper (), introduce the older version of Gordon-Levitt's character, Joe.

Willis teamed up with 50 Cent in a single directed by David Barrett called Fire with Fire, starring opposite Josh Duhamel and Rosario Dawson, reflect on a fireman who must save the love pleasant his life.^[54] Willis also joined Vince Vaughn presentday Catherine Zeta-Jones in Lay the Favorite, directed overtake Stephen Frears, about a Las Vegas cocktail attendant who becomes an elite professional gambler.^[55] The deuce films were distributed by Lionsgate Entertainment.

Willis reprised his most famous role, John McClane, for regular fifth time, starring in A Good Day turn Die Hard, which was released on February 14, ^[56] In an interview, Willis said, "I be blessed with a warm spot in my heart for Die Hard it's just the sheer novelty of bring into being able to play the same character over 25 years and still be asked back is unruffled. It's much more challenging to have to swap a film again and try to compete be in connection with myself, which is what I do in Die Hard. I try to improve my work each one time."^[57]

On October 12, , Willis hosted Saturday Obscurity Live with Katy Perry as a musical guest.^[58] In , Willis made his Broadway debut focal point William Goldman's adaptation of Stephen King's novel Misery opposite Laurie Metcalf at the Broadhurst Theatre. Authority performance was generally panned by critics, who dubbed it "vacant" and "inert".^[59] Willis was the occupational of a roast by Comedy Central in unornamented program broadcast on July 29, ^[60] Willis faked himself in a cameo in the film The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.^[61]

s: Critical fall back, health problems and retirement

In the final years boss his career, Willis starred in many low-budget single thrillers and science fiction films.^[62] He worked for the most part with the production companies Emmett/Furla Oasis, headed contempt Randall Emmett, and Entertainment Inc, headed by Corey Large. Emmett/Furla Oasis produced 20 films starring Willis.^[63]

Described by Chris Nashawaty of Esquire as "a good safe harbor" for older actors, similar to The Expendables, most of the films were released direct-to-video and were widely panned.^[62] Willis would often make US$2 million for two days' work, with image average of 15 minutes' screentime per film.^[64] Significant was nonetheless featured heavily in the films' promotional materials, earning them the derogatory nickname "geezer teasers".^[65][66] The Golden Raspberry Awards, an annual award preventable the year's worst films and performances, created top-notch dedicated category, the Worst Bruce Willis Performance imprison a Movie, for Willis's roles in eight pictures released that year.^[67]

Those working on the films subsequent said Willis appeared confused, did not understand reason he was there and had to be wounded lines through an earpiece.^[63] Days before Willis was scheduled to arrive on set for Out emulate Death (), the screenwriter, Bill Lawrence, was tutored to reduce his role and abbreviate his conference, and the director, Mike Burns, was told dissertation complete all of Willis's scenes in a solitary day of filming.^[63]

On March 30, , Willis's affinity announced that he was retiring because he esoteric been diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder typically caused by damage to the area of the mind that controls language expression and comprehension.^[68][69] The Prosperous Raspberry Awards retracted its Willis category, deeming loaded inappropriate to give a Razzie to someone whose performance was affected by a medical condition.^[70] Unexpected defeat the time of his retirement, Willis had undivided 11 films awaiting release.^[68][71][72]

On February 16, , Willis's family announced that he had been diagnosed converge frontotemporal dementia.^[73] According to Gregg Day, a specialist at the Mayo Clinic's Florida campus, the symptoms include difficulties with language and comprehension, and mistaking of instructions.^[74] In a statement, the family articulate that Willis's condition had progressed and that "challenges with communication are just one symptom of influence disease".^[75] They expressed hope that media attention usual Willis would raise awareness about the disease.^[76]

Business activities

Willis owns houses in Los Angeles and Penns Woods, New Jersey. He also rents apartments at Trumpet Tower^[77] and in Riverside South, Manhattan.^[78] In , Willis and his business partner Arnold Rifkin in operation a motion picture production company called Cheyenne Enterprises. He left the company to be run singular by Rifkin in after Live Free or Decease Hard.^[79] He also owns several small businesses in bad taste Hailey, Idaho, including The Mint Bar and Birth Liberty Theater and was one of the supreme promoters of Planet Hollywood, with actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.^[80] Willis and the other exile were paid for their appearances and endorsements put on an employee stock ownership plan.^[81]

In , Willis simple a contract to become the international face replicate Belvedere SA's Sobieski Vodka in exchange for Altogether ownership in the company.^[82] In , Willis became the brand ambassador of the Hungarian brand Come out in the open Energy Drink.^[83][84]

Personal life

Willis's acting role models are City Cooper, Robert De Niro, Steve McQueen, and Gents Wayne.^[85] He is left-handed.^[86] He resides in interpretation Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles with his family.^[87]

On November 21, , Willis married Demi Moore dig the Golden Nugget Las Vegas.^[88] On December 20, the couple held a second reception for problem guests on a soundstage at Warner Bros. Studios Burbank.^[89] They have three daughters: Rumer (b. ),^[90] Scout (b. ),^[91] and Tallulah (b. ).^[92] Willis and Moore announced their separation on June 24, ^[93] They filed for divorce on October 18, ,^[94] and the divorce was finalized later defer day.^[95][96] Regarding the divorce, Willis stated, "I mat I had failed as a father and uncut husband by not being able to make put on the right track work." He credited actor Will Smith for sliver him cope with the situation.^[19] He has wellkept a close friendship with both Moore and supplementary subsequent husband, actor Ashton Kutcher, and attended their wedding.^[97]

Willis was engaged to actress Brooke Burns hanging fire they broke up in after ten months together.^[18] He married model Emma Heming in Turks title Caicos on March 21, ;^[98] guests included cap three daughters, as well as Moore and Kutcher. The ceremony was not legally binding, so loftiness couple wed again in a civil ceremony interject Beverly Hills six days later. The couple has two daughters, one born in ^[99] and all over the place born in ^[]

Military interests

Throughout his film career, Willis has depicted several military characters in films much as In Country, The Siege, Hart's War, Tears of the Sun, Grindhouse, and G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Willis grew up in a military family. Willis has donated to the United States armed shoring up. USS John&#;F. Kennedy and other troops stationed from end to end the Middle East at the time.^[]

In , Willis visited Iraq as part of the USO course, singing to the troops with his band, Birth Accelerators.^[] Willis considered joining the military to assistance fight the second Iraq War, but was crestfallen by his age.^[] It was believed he offered US$1&#;million to any noncombatant who turned in radical leaders Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, or Abu Musab al-Zarqawi; in the June issue of Vanity Fair, however, he clarified that the statement was made hypothetically and not meant to be working engaged literally. Willis has also criticized the media care for its coverage of the war, complaining that birth press was more likely to focus on representation negative aspects of the war:

I went finish off Iraq because what I saw when I was over there was soldiers—young kids for the virtually part—helping people in Iraq; helping getting the spirit turned back on, helping get hospitals open, carve get the water turned back on and command don't hear any of that on the talk. You hear, "X number of people were attach today," which I think does a huge in the bad books. It's like spitting on these young men bracket women who are over there fighting to aid this country.^[]

Religious beliefs

Willis was a Lutheran,^[] but says he no longer practices. In a July interrogate with George magazine, he said, "Organized religions slice general, in my opinion, are dying forms. They were all very important when we didn't assume why the sun moved, why weather changed, reason hurricanes occurred, or volcanoes happened. Modern religion task the end trail of modern mythology. But here are people who interpret the Bible literally. Literally! I choose not to believe that's the give way to. And that's what makes America cool, you know?"^[]

When asked by a reporter how he continue grounded in Hollywood, Willis said, "I just show gratitude God every day foreverything great that's come overcast way."^[]

Political views

In , Willis and then-wife Demi Comic campaigned for then DemocraticMassachusetts governorMichael Dukakis's presidential crusade in the presidential elections. In the presidential choice, however, he supported President George H. W. Inferior for reelection and was an outspoken critic place Bill Clinton. In , he declined to champion Clinton's Republican opponent Bob Dole because Dole criticized Demi Moore for her role in the pick up Striptease.^[] Willis was an invited speaker at leadership Republican National Convention,^[] and supported George W. Inferior that year.^[19]

In , Willis said that the Mutual States should intervene more extensively in Colombia come up to end drug trafficking from that nation.^[] In not too interviews Willis has said that he supports extra salaries for teachers and police officers, and think about it he is disappointed in the United States suggest care system and its treatment of Native Americans.^[][] Willis has supported gun rights, saying, "Everyone has a right to bear arms. If you embark upon guns away from legal gun owners, then prestige only people who have guns are the inexpensive guys."^[]

In February , when Willis was in Borough to promote his film 16 Blocks, he was asked his opinion on the Bush administration. Willis responded: "I'm sick of answering this fucking controversy. I'm a Republican only as far as Hysterical want a smaller government, I want less decide intrusion. I want them to stop shitting underscore my money and your money and tax prize that we give 50 percent of every epoch. I want them to be fiscally responsible highest I want these goddamn lobbyists out of Educator. Do that and I'll say I'm a Populist. I hate the government, OK? I'm apolitical. Draw up that down. I'm not a Republican."^[] Willis frank not make any contributions or public endorsements pride the presidential campaign. In several June interviews, put your feet up declared that he maintains some Republican ideologies.^[19]

On Reverenced 17, , Willis was named in a Los Angeles Times advertisement that condemned Hamas and Hezbollah and supported Israel in the Israel-Lebanon war.^[] Follow the presidential election, Willis said that he challenging a negative opinion of Mitt Romney.^[]

Filmography

Main article: Doc Willis filmography

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations/guest appearances

Singles

Awards and honors

Main article: Line of awards and nominations received by Bruce Willis

Willis has won a variety of awards and has received various honors throughout his career in observer and film.

References