Career Timeline of Bruce Willis: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Bruce Willis, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Bruce Willis is a retired American actor renowned for his leading role in the television series *Moonlighting* and his portrayal of John McClane in the *Die Hard* film franchise. He gained prominence as an action hero and has appeared in over one hundred films throughout his career.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

1988: Campaigning for Michael Dukakis

In 1988, Bruce Willis and then-wife Demi Moore campaigned for Democratic Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis's presidential campaign in the 1988 presidential elections.

1992: Support for George H. W. Bush

In the 1992 presidential election, Bruce Willis supported President George H. W. Bush for reelection and was an outspoken critic of Bill Clinton.

1996: Refusal to Endorse Bob Dole

In 1996, Bruce Willis declined to endorse Clinton's Republican opponent Bob Dole because Dole criticized Demi Moore for her role in the film Striptease.

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2000: Cheyenne Enterprises Motion Picture Production Company Started

In 2000, Bruce Willis and Arnold Rifkin started Cheyenne Enterprises, a motion picture production company.

2000: Speaker at Republican National Convention

In 2000, Bruce Willis was an invited speaker at the Republican National Convention, and supported George W. Bush that year.

2002: Donation of Girl Scout Cookies to Troops

In 2002, Bruce Willis purchased 12,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies, suggested by his daughter Tallulah, to send to sailors aboard USS John F. Kennedy and other troops in the Middle East.

2003: USO Tour in Iraq

In 2003, Bruce Willis visited Iraq as part of a USO tour, singing to the troops with his band, The Accelerators.

February 2006: Comments on the Bush Administration

In February 2006, while promoting his film 16 Blocks, Bruce Willis expressed his frustration with the Bush administration, stating his desire for smaller government and fiscal responsibility.

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August 17, 2006: Support for Israel in Los Angeles Times Ad

On August 17, 2006, Bruce Willis was named in a Los Angeles Times advertisement that condemned Hamas and Hezbollah and supported Israel in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

2006: Advocating Intervention in Colombia

In 2006, Bruce Willis said that the United States should intervene more extensively in Colombia to end drug trafficking.

June 2007: Alignment with Republican Ideas

In several June 2007 interviews, Bruce Willis said that he maintains some beliefs aligned with Republican ideas.

2007: Departure from Cheyenne Enterprises

In 2007, Bruce Willis left Cheyenne Enterprises, leaving Arnold Rifkin to run it solely after Live Free or Die Hard.

2008: No Endorsements in Presidential Campaign

In 2008, Bruce Willis did not make any contributions or public endorsements in the presidential campaign.

2009: Sobieski Vodka International Face

In 2009, Bruce Willis signed a contract to become the international face of Belvedere SA's Sobieski Vodka in exchange for 3.3% ownership in the company.

2012: Negative Opinion of Mitt Romney

In the 2012 presidential election, Bruce Willis said that he had a negative opinion of Mitt Romney.

October 12, 2013: Hosting Saturday Night Live

On October 12, 2013, Bruce Willis hosted Saturday Night Live, with Katy Perry as the musical guest.

2015: Broadway Debut in Misery

In 2015, Bruce Willis made his Broadway debut in William Goldman's adaptation of Stephen King's novel Misery opposite Laurie Metcalf at the Broadhurst Theatre. Critics panned his performance, calling it "vacant" and "inert".

Misery: A Novel

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July 29, 2018: Comedy Central Roast

On July 29, 2018, Bruce Willis was the subject of a roast by Comedy Central in a program broadcast on that date.

2018: Brand Ambassador of Hell Energy Drink

In 2018, Bruce Willis became the brand ambassador of the Hungarian brand Hell Energy Drink.

2019: The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part Cameo

In 2019, Bruce Willis played himself in a cameo role in the film The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.

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2021: Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Performance

In 2021, The Golden Raspberry Awards created a dedicated category, the Worst Bruce Willis Performance in a 2021 Movie, for Willis's roles in eight films released that year. These films were low-budget independent thrillers and science fiction films.

2021: Challenges on Set of Out of Death

In 2021, during the filming of Out of Death, Bruce Willis appeared confused and needed to be fed lines through an earpiece. His role was reduced, dialogue was abbreviated, and all his scenes were completed in a single day.

March 30, 2022: Retirement Announcement Due to Aphasia Diagnosis

On March 30, 2022, Bruce Willis's family announced his retirement due to aphasia, a language disorder. The Golden Raspberry Awards retracted its Willis category because of his medical condition. At the time of his retirement, Willis had completed 11 films awaiting release.