History of Bruce Willis in Timeline
"Walter Bruce Willis, better known as Bruce Willis, is a retired American actor widely recognized for his action roles, particularly as John McClane in the "Die Hard" franchise. His career skyrocketed with his role in the popular comedy-drama series "Moonlighting." With a career spanning decades and over 100 films, Willis has cemented his place as a Hollywood icon."
March 19, 1955: Birth of Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis was born on March 19, 1955, in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany, to a German mother and an American soldier father.
1957: Bruce Willis's Family Moves to New Jersey
After Bruce Willis's father was discharged from the military in 1957, the family moved to Carneys Point, New Jersey, where he spent his formative years.
1968: N/A
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1973: Bruce Willis Graduates High School
Bruce Willis graduated from Penns Grove High School in Carneys Point Township, New Jersey, in 1973, where he discovered his passion for acting.
1977: Bruce Willis Moves to New York City to Pursue Acting
In 1977, Bruce Willis left Montclair State University to pursue his acting dreams, moving to New York City, where he worked various jobs while trying to make it as an actor.
1985: Bruce Willis Stars in "Moonlighting"
Bruce Willis landed his breakout role as David Addison Jr. in the television series "Moonlighting" in 1985, which ran until 1989, catapulting him to fame as a comedic actor.
1985: Bruce Willis Stars in "Moonlighting"
Bruce Willis's performance as David Addison Jr. in the television series "Moonlighting," which premiered in 1985, earned him critical acclaim and established him as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
November 21, 1987: Marriage to Demi Moore
Bruce Willis married actress Demi Moore on November 21, 1987.
1987: Bruce Willis Releases Debut Album
Bruce Willis showcased his musical talents with the release of his debut album, "The Return of Bruno," in 1987.
1987: Bruce Willis in "Blind Date"
Bruce Willis starred in the romantic comedy "Blind Date" in 1987, directed by Blake Edwards and co-starring Kim Basinger.
August 1988: Birth of daughter, Rumer Willis
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's daughter, Rumer Willis, was born in August 1988.
1988: Bruce Willis in "Sunset" and "Die Hard"
Bruce Willis had a busy year in 1988, starring in Blake Edwards's "Sunset" and the action blockbuster "Die Hard," which cemented his status as an action star.
1988: Bruce Willis's Breakthrough with "Die Hard"
In 1988, Bruce Willis starred in the action film "Die Hard" as John McClane, a role that solidified his status as a leading action hero in Hollywood.
1988: Bruce Willis Decides to Quit Drinking
In a significant personal decision, Bruce Willis chose to stop drinking alcohol in 1988, leading him to not renew his contract for the popular Golden Wine Cooler advertising campaign.
1988: Support for Michael Dukakis
Bruce Willis and then-wife, Demi Moore, campaigned for Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential election.
1989: End of "Moonlighting"
After a successful five-season run, the television series "Moonlighting," starring Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd, came to an end in 1989.
1989: Bruce Willis in "In Country" and "Look Who's Talking"
Bruce Willis took on diverse roles in 1989, starring in the Vietnam War drama "In Country" and providing the voice for a talking baby in the comedy "Look Who's Talking."
1989: End of "Moonlighting" and Voice Acting Debut
Bruce Willis wrapped up his run on the popular TV series "Moonlighting" in 1989 and ventured into voice acting with "Look Who's Talking."
1989: Bruce Willis Releases Second Album
Following the success of his debut album, Bruce Willis released his second album in 1989, further exploring his musical endeavors.
1990: Bruce Willis in "Look Who's Talking Too"
Bruce Willis reprised his voice role in the sequel to the popular comedy "Look Who's Talking," titled "Look Who's Talking Too," released in 1990.
1990: Bruce Willis in "Die Hard 2: Die Harder"
Bruce Willis returned as John McClane in "Die Hard 2: Die Harder," released in 1990, continuing the successful action franchise.
1990: Bruce Willis in "The Bonfire of the Vanities"
Bruce Willis starred in Brian De Palma's adaptation of Tom Wolfe's novel "The Bonfire of the Vanities" in 1990, which, despite high expectations, became a critical and commercial disappointment.
1991: Bruce Willis in "The Last Boy Scout"
Bruce Willis starred alongside Damon Wayans in the action comedy "The Last Boy Scout" in 1991, a film that achieved commercial success.
1991: Bruce Willis in "Hudson Hawk"
Bruce Willis starred in "Hudson Hawk" in 1991, an action comedy that he also co-wrote, but the film was poorly received by critics and bombed at the box office.
1992: Support for George H. W. Bush
Bruce Willis supported George H. W. Bush for reelection in the 1992 presidential election.
1993: Bruce Willis in "Striking Distance"
Bruce Willis starred as a Pittsburgh police officer investigating a serial killer in the action thriller "Striking Distance," released in 1993.
1994: Bruce Willis in "Pulp Fiction"
Bruce Willis's performance as Butch Coolidge, a boxer on the run, in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction," released in 1994, marked a turning point in his career, reigniting his star power and earning him critical acclaim.
1994: Bruce Willis in "Pulp Fiction"
Bruce Willis starred in Quentin Tarantino's critically acclaimed film "Pulp Fiction" in 1994, marking a significant comeback for him in Hollywood.
1994: Bruce Willis in "Color of Night"
Bruce Willis starred alongside Jane March in the erotic thriller "Color of Night" in 1994, a film that received negative reviews from critics but found success in the home video market.
1995: Bruce Willis in "Die Hard with a Vengeance"
Bruce Willis reprised his role as John McClane for the third time in "Die Hard with a Vengeance," released in 1995, further solidifying his action hero persona.
1995: "Color of Night" Becomes a Top Rental and Earns Recognition for Sex Scene
Despite its critical failure, "Color of Night" became one of the most rented films in the United States in 1995, and its sex scene, featuring Bruce Willis, gained notoriety, even earning recognition from Maxim magazine as one of the best in film history.
1995: Bruce Willis in "12 Monkeys"
In 1995, Bruce Willis starred as James Cole, a time traveler, in "12 Monkeys," a science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam.
1995: Bruce Willis in "12 Monkeys"
Bruce Willis portrayed James Cole, a time traveler, in Terry Gilliam's science fiction film "12 Monkeys", released in 1995.
1996: Declined to Endorse Bob Dole
Bruce Willis declined to endorse Bob Dole in the 1996 presidential election due to Dole's criticism of Demi Moore's role in the film "Striptease".
1996: Bruce Willis Stars in and Produces "Bruno the Kid" and Lends Voice to "Beavis and Butt-head Do America"
Bruce Willis showcased his versatility in 1996 by starring in and executive producing the animated series "Bruno the Kid," featuring a CGI representation of himself, and lending his voice to the animated comedy "Beavis and Butt-head Do America."
1997: Bruce Willis in "The Fifth Element"
Bruce Willis starred in Luc Besson's science fiction action film "The Fifth Element" in 1997, playing Korben Dallas, a former special forces soldier turned cab driver who finds himself caught in an intergalactic conflict.
1997: Bruce Willis in "The Fifth Element"
In 1997, Bruce Willis starred as Korben Dallas, a taxicab driver caught in an intergalactic battle, in Luc Besson's science fiction film "The Fifth Element".
June 24, 1998: Separation from Demi Moore
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore announced their separation on June 24, 1998.
July 1998: Views on Religion
In July 1998, Bruce Willis stated that he was no longer a practicing Lutheran and shared his belief that organized religions were dying forms.
1998: Bruce Willis in "Armageddon"
Bruce Willis played Harry S. Stamper, an oil driller tasked with saving Earth from an asteroid, in the 1998 disaster film "Armageddon."
1998: Bruce Willis Stars in "Armageddon" and "Apocalypse"
Bruce Willis had a successful year in 1998 with the release of the blockbuster disaster film "Armageddon" and his voice and likeness being featured in the PlayStation video game "Apocalypse."
1999: Bruce Willis in "The Sixth Sense"
Bruce Willis delivered a critically acclaimed performance as Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist treating a young boy who can see dead people, in M. Night Shyamalan's supernatural thriller "The Sixth Sense," released in 1999.
1999: Bruce Willis in "The Sixth Sense"
Bruce Willis had a critically acclaimed performance as child psychologist Malcolm Crowe in M. Night Shyamalan's supernatural thriller "The Sixth Sense", released in 1999.
October 18, 2000: Divorce from Demi Moore
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore filed for divorce on October 18, 2000, which was finalized later that day.
2000: Creation of Cheyenne Enterprises
Bruce Willis and Arnold Rifkin co-founded the motion picture production company Cheyenne Enterprises in 2000.
2000: Bruce Willis in "Unbreakable" and "The Whole Nine Yards"
Bruce Willis starred in two successful films in 2000: "Unbreakable," a superhero thriller directed by M. Night Shyamalan, and "The Whole Nine Yards," an action comedy.
2000: Support for George W. Bush
Bruce Willis supported George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election and was a speaker at the Republican National Convention.
2000: Bruce Willis Wins Emmy Award for "Friends"
Bruce Willis won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his recurring role as Paul Stevens, the father of Ross Geller's much younger girlfriend, Elizabeth, on the popular sitcom "Friends" in 2000.
2001: Bruce Willis Releases Third Album
Bruce Willis released his third album in 2001, marking his continued foray into the music industry.
2001: Bruce Willis in "The Whole Nine Yards"
Bruce Willis starred alongside Matthew Perry in the action comedy "The Whole Nine Yards" in 2000, playing Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski, a mob hitman hiding in Mexico.
2002: Girl Scout Cookies for the Troops
In 2002, Bruce Willis sent 12,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to troops stationed throughout the Middle East at the suggestion of his daughter, Tallulah.
February 26, 2003: Guest Host on Late Show with David Letterman
On February 26, 2003, Bruce Willis filled in as a guest host on the Late Show with David Letterman because Letterman was ill.
2003: Bruce Willis in "Tears of the Sun"
In "Tears of the Sun," released in 2003, Bruce Willis portrayed Lieutenant A.K. Waters, a Navy SEAL lieutenant tasked with rescuing a doctor amidst a war-torn Nigerian jungle.
2003: USO Tour in Iraq
In 2003, Bruce Willis participated in a USO tour in Iraq, performing for troops with his band.
2004: Breakup with Brooke Burns
Bruce Willis and actress Brooke Burns broke up in 2004 after a ten-month engagement.
2004: Bruce Willis Makes Cameo Appearance in "Ocean's Twelve"
Bruce Willis made a cameo appearance as himself in "Ocean's Twelve," the 2004 sequel to the heist film "Ocean's Eleven," after initially turning down a role in the first film.
2005: Bruce Willis in "Sin City"
Bruce Willis starred as Detective John Hartigan, a hardened cop nearing retirement, in the 2005 neo-noir crime anthology film "Sin City," directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller.
2005: Bruce Willis in "Sin City"
Bruce Willis starred as Hartigan, a police detective, in "Sin City," a 2005 neo-noir crime anthology film directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, based on Miller's graphic novel of the same name.
2005: Appearance in "Hostage"
Bruce Willis starred alongside his daughter, Rumer Willis, in the 2005 film "Hostage".
February 2006: Criticism of the Bush Administration
In February 2006, Bruce Willis expressed criticism towards the Bush administration, stating his desire for a smaller government and fiscal responsibility.
August 17, 2006: Support for Israel
On August 17, 2006, Bruce Willis was featured in a Los Angeles Times advertisement condemning Hamas and Hezbollah while expressing support for Israel during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.
2006: Bruce Willis Voices RJ the Raccoon in "Over the Hedge"
Bruce Willis lent his voice to the animated comedy "Over the Hedge" in 2006, playing RJ, a cunning raccoon who disrupts the peaceful life of a group of forest animals.
2006: Advocacy for Drug Intervention and Social Issues
In 2006, Bruce Willis advocated for increased US intervention in Colombia to combat drug trafficking. He also expressed support for increased salaries for teachers and police officers, and criticized the US foster care system and treatment of Native Americans.
2006: Bruce Willis Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In recognition of his significant contributions to the entertainment industry, Bruce Willis was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006.
April 12, 2007: Appearance on Late Show with David Letterman
Bruce Willis appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman on April 12, 2007, wearing a Sanjaya Malakar wig.
June 2007: Republican Ideologies
In June 2007, Bruce Willis stated that he maintained some Republican ideologies.
June 2007: Clarification on Bounty Statement
In June 2007, Bruce Willis clarified that a statement about offering money for the capture of terrorist leaders, was hypothetical and not meant to be taken literally.
June 25, 2007: Appearance on Late Show with David Letterman
On June 25, 2007, Bruce Willis appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman wearing a mini-wind turbine on his head, joking about a fictional documentary titled "An Unappealing Hunch".
2007: "Pinkville" Movie Cancellation
In 2007, Bruce Willis was slated to play U.S. Army general William R. Peers in Oliver Stone's "Pinkville," but the film was canceled due to the Writer's Guild of America strike.
2007: Bruce Willis in "Grindhouse: Planet Terror"
Bruce Willis played the villain, Lieutenant Muldoon, in Robert Rodriguez's "Grindhouse: Planet Terror," a 2007 exploitation horror film that paid homage to 1970s grindhouse cinema.
2007: Departure from Cheyenne Enterprises
Bruce Willis left the Cheyenne Enterprises production company, leaving Arnold Rifkin in charge, in 2007.
2007: Appearances in "Perfect Stranger," "Alpha Dog," and "Live Free or Die Hard"
In 2007, Bruce Willis appeared in the films "Perfect Stranger" with Halle Berry, "Alpha Dog" with Sharon Stone, and "Live Free or Die Hard," reprising his role as John McClane.
2008: No Political Endorsements
Bruce Willis did not make any political contributions or endorsements in the 2008 presidential campaign.
2008: Appearance on Blues Traveler Album
In 2008, Bruce Willis provided a spoken word performance on the Blues Traveler album "North Hollywood Shootout" on the track "Free Willis (Ruminations from Behind Uncle Bob's Machine Shop)."
March 21, 2009: Marriage to Emma Heming
Bruce Willis married model Emma Heming in Turks and Caicos on March 21, 2009, in a ceremony that was not legally binding. They had a civil ceremony in Beverly Hills six days later.
October 24, 2009: Cameo Appearance in "The Expendables"
On October 24, 2009, Bruce Willis filmed a cameo appearance alongside Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film "The Expendables".
2009: Norwich Union Advertising Campaign
Bruce Willis appeared in an advertising campaign in early 2009 to announce the name change of insurance company Norwich Union to Aviva.
2009: Sobieski Vodka Contract
Bruce Willis signed a contract to be the international face of Sobieski Vodka in exchange for 3.3% ownership in 2009.
October 15, 2010: Release of "RED"
On October 15, 2010, the film "RED" was released, in which Bruce Willis starred as Frank Moses.
2010: Bruce Willis in "The Expendables" and "Red"
Bruce Willis starred in two action films in 2010: "The Expendables," an ensemble action film, and "Red," an action comedy.
2010: Bruce Willis Ranked Eighth-Highest-Grossing Actor
By 2010, Bruce Willis had become the eighth-highest-grossing leading actor, with his films grossing billions of dollars worldwide, solidifying his box office appeal.
2011: Filming of "Moonrise Kingdom"
Bruce Willis filmed "Moonrise Kingdom" with director Wes Anderson in Rhode Island in 2011.
2012: Birth of daughter
Bruce Willis and Emma Heming's first daughter was born in 2012.
2012: Bruce Willis in "Looper"
Bruce Willis starred as the older version of Joe, a hitman who travels back in time, in Rian Johnson's science fiction action film "Looper" in 2012.
2012: Appearances in "Moonrise Kingdom," "The Expendables 2," and "Looper"
Bruce Willis starred in the films "Moonrise Kingdom," "The Expendables 2," and "Looper" in 2012.
2012: Negative Opinion of Mitt Romney
During the 2012 presidential election, Bruce Willis expressed a negative opinion of Mitt Romney.
February 14, 2013: Release of "A Good Day to Die Hard"
The film, "A Good Day to Die Hard," in which Bruce Willis starred, was released on February 14, 2013.
October 12, 2013: Hosting "Saturday Night Live"
Bruce Willis hosted "Saturday Night Live" with musical guest Katy Perry on October 12, 2013.
2013: Final Installment of "Die Hard" Franchise
The "Die Hard" franchise concluded in 2013 with Bruce Willis reprising his iconic role as John McClane for the last time.
2014: Birth of daughter
Bruce Willis and Emma Heming's second daughter was born in 2014.
2015: Bruce Willis Makes Broadway Debut
Bruce Willis took on a new challenge in 2015 by making his Broadway debut in the stage adaptation of Stephen King's "Misery."
2015: Broadway Debut in "Misery"
Bruce Willis made his Broadway debut in "Misery" alongside Laurie Metcalf in 2015.
July 29, 2018: Comedy Central Roast
Bruce Willis was the subject of a Comedy Central roast that aired on July 29, 2018.
2018: Hell Energy Drink Brand Ambassador
Bruce Willis became the brand ambassador for Hell Energy Drink in 2018.
2019: Cameo in "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part"
Bruce Willis played himself in a cameo role in the 2019 film "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part".
2019: Bruce Willis in "Glass"
Bruce Willis reprised his role as David Dunn in "Glass," the 2019 superhero thriller film and the final installment in M. Night Shyamalan's "Unbreakable" trilogy.
2021: Creation of the "Worst Bruce Willis Performance in a 2021 Movie" Razzie Award
The Golden Raspberry Awards created the "Worst Bruce Willis Performance in a 2021 Movie" award in response to the large number of poorly-received films Willis starred in that year.
2021: On-set difficulties during filming of "Out of Death"
The screenwriter and director of the film "Out of Death" were instructed to adjust the production schedule and dialogue to accommodate Bruce Willis, who appeared to be confused on set, in 2021.
March 30, 2022: Retirement Announcement
On March 30, 2022, Bruce Willis' family announced his retirement from acting due to his diagnosis of aphasia.
2022: Bruce Willis Retires from Acting
Bruce Willis retired from acting in 2022 due to health reasons, specifically aphasia, a condition that affects language and communication abilities.
February 16, 2023: Frontotemporal Dementia Diagnosis Announcement
On February 16, 2023, Bruce Willis' family announced that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
2023: Bruce Willis Diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia
Bruce Willis's family announced in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a neurodegenerative disease that affects behavior, language, and movement.
2024: Box Office Feat for Bruce Willis and Demi Moore
In a notable box office achievement, Bruce Willis and his then-wife, Demi Moore, held the number one and two spots at the box office with "Die Hard 2" and "Ghost," a feat that was unmatched by a married Hollywood couple until 2024, highlighting their individual and combined star power.