German born, New Jersey raised US actor and musician well known for his film appearances as wise cracking or hard edged characters, often in spectacular action films. Collectively, he has appeared in films that have grossed in excess of $2.5 billion USD placing him in the top ten stars in terms of box office receipts. The young Willis picked up an interest for the dramatic arts in high school, and was allegedly "discovered" whilst working in a café in NYC and then appeared in a couple of off-Broadway productions.

After countless auditions, Willis contributed minor film appearances, usually uncredited, before landing the role of private eye "David Addison" alongside sultry Cybill Shepherd in the hit romantic comedy TV series Moonlighting. The series firmly established Bruce Willis as a hot new talent, and his sarcastic & wise cracking PI was in effect a dry run for the role of hard boiled, NYC detective "John McClane" in the monster hit of 1988, Die Hard. This superbly paced action film balanced laconic humor and wholesale destruction as Willis' character single handedly battles a gang of ruthless international thieves in a Los Angeles skyscraper. Willis reprized the role of tough guy cop "John McClane" in the eagerly anticipated sequel Die Hard 2 set at snow bound Washington's Dulles International Airport as a group of renegade Special Forces soldiers seek to repatriate a corrupt South American general. Excellent box office returns demanded a further sequel Die Hard: With a Vengeance this time also starring Samuel L. Jackson as a cynical Harlem shop owner unwittingly thrust into assisting McClane during a terrorist bombing campaign on a sweltering day in NYC.

Willis found time out from all the action mayhem to provide the voice of "Mikey" the baby in the very popular family comedies Look Who's Talking, and its sequel Look Who's Talking Too also starring John Travolta and Kirstie Alley. Over the next decade, Willis starred in some very successful films, some very offbeat films and some unfortunate box office flops. The Bonfire of the Vanities and Hudson Hawk were both large scale financial disasters that were savaged by the critics, and both are arguably best left off the CVs of all the actors involved, however Willis was still popular with movie audiences and selling plenty of theatre tickets with the hyper violent The Last Boy Scout, the darkly humored Death Becomes Her and the mediocre police thriller Striking Distance. During the 1990s, Willis also appeared in several independent and low budget productions that won him new fans and praise from the critics for his intriguing performances working with some very diverse film directors. He appeared in the oddly appealing North, as a cagey prize fighter in the Quentin Tarantino directed mega-hit Pulp Fiction, the Terry Gilliam directed apocalyptic thriller Twelve Monkeys, the Luc Besson directed sci-fi opus The Fifth Element and the M. Night Shyamalan directed spine tingling epic The Sixth Sense.

Willis next starred in the gangster comedy _Whole Nine Yards, The (2000)_qv), worked again with "hot" director M. Night Shyamalan in the less gripping Unbreakable, and in two military dramas, Hart's War and _Tears of the Sun (2003)_qv) that both failed to really fire with movie audiences or critics alike. However, Willis bounced back into the spotlight in the critically applauded Frank Miller graphic novel turned movie Sin City, the voice of "RJ" the scheming raccoon in the animated hit Over the Hedge and "Die Hard" fans rejoiced to see "John McClane" return to the big screen in the high tech Live Free or Die Hard aka "Die Hard 4.0".

Willis was married to actress Demi Moore for approximately thirteen years and they share custody to their three children.
Hart's War (2002): $22,500,000
Unbreakable (2000): $20,000,000
The Kid (2000): $20,000,000
The Sixth Sense (1999): $100,000,000 (salary, gross and video participations)
Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995): $15,000,000
Pulp Fiction (1994): $800,000
The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990): $3,000,000
Look Who's Talking Too (1990): $10,000,000
Die Hard 2 (1990): $7,500,000
Look Who's Talking (1989): $10,000,000
Die Hard (1988): $5,000,000
Was high school student council president. His recording of "Respect Yourself" reached #5 in January of 1987. He and Demi Moore announce they are ending their marriage of 11 years. No reasons given. [24 June 1998] Ranked #22 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997] Has three daughters with Demi Moore: Rumer Willis (b. 1988), Scout LaRue Willis (b. 1991) and Tallulah Belle Willis (b. 1994). His mother Marlene was born in Kassel, Germany. Appeared on Late Show with David Letterman to advertise for Demi Moore's Striptease by doing his own undressing act. [1996] As a young man his personality was very much like that of the character that he portrayed on Moonlighting. He was always getting into trouble because of this and was bodily ejected from parties by the hosts for being obnoxious. Has been very vocal in his support of almost every major Republican candidate in recent history except Bob Dole. He felt that presidential candidate Dole was out of line in his attacks on Demi Moore and her part in the movie Striptease. Was the first actor to ever "act" in a video game. No one before has ever done voice work along with having their movements digitally added to the game. Stated he will no longer be doing violent action or "save-the-world" movies. [2001] Wears his watch upside down with the face on the inside of his hand. This is also visible in many movies he's done (Die Hard: With a Vengeance, Mercury Rising, etc.) where they haven't requested him to flip it over. Memorial Day weekend, 1987: Was arrested after reportedly disturbing the peace and assaulting a police officer who was called to quiet a raucous party at his home. The charges were dropped after Willis agreed to apologize to his neighbors. According to friends, he had a terrible stammer as a child. Younger brother Robert died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 42. [2001] Was originally cast as Terry Benedict in Ocean's Eleven but dropped out. Attended Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. Set a new benchmark for actors' salaries when he was paid $5 million for Die Hard in 1988. Eight years later, his wife, Demi Moore, set a benchmark of $12 million with Striptease. His ineptness as a waiter forced him to become a bartender. Was named Man of the Year by Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals. [February 2002] Was born on a military base in Germany. Was president of a drama club at school. Worked in a chemical factory before going to college. He filled in as a last-minute host for David Letterman on February 26, 2003, a show he was supposed to be the guest for. It was Letterman's first "sick day" in 20 years (other than his time off for heart surgery). Ranked #3 in Star TV's Top 10 Box Office Stars of the 1990s (2003). Lives in Hailey, Idaho, where he owns The Mint bar and the Liberty Theater. He also owns the old Hailey Drug Store, but the building has been vacant and unused since the early 90s. The scar on his right shoulder is from surgery due to complications from a broken arm when he was 17. Personally recommended Bonnie Bedelia for the role of his estranged wife in Die Hard. He is the hero of singer Nick Lachey. He ad-libbed many of John McClane's one-liners in the "Die Hard" films. Graduate of Penns Grove High School, Penns Grove, New Jersey. Class of 1973 who voted him "Most School Spirit." He was the only celebrity that attended Julia Roberts' wedding to 'Danny Moder' . Recommended Michael Clarke Duncan to play the part of John Coffey in The Green Mile. 20 October 2004 - Sued Revolution Studios for unspecified damages related to a blow to his forehead that he received during "ultrahazardous activity" involved in the filming of _Tears of the Sun (2003)_ . He claims that it has caused him extreme mental, physical and emotional pain & suffering. Attended the Stella Adler Conservatory / Theatre program in New York City for three years. Plays the harmonica. France made him an officer in Order of Arts and Letters (April 2005). "France pays homage to an actor who represents the force of American cinema and the power of emotions that he invites us to share on screens throughout the world", Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres said. "I'm nervous. Bonjour Paris," he replied. After dating Brooke Burns for ten months and finally being engaged to her they decided to split because of the difficulties with maintaining a long-distance relationship. (2 June 2004) Was chosen to play John McClane in Die Hard because the producers felt he brought warmth and humor to an otherwise cold and humorless character. He has been special ambassador of his birth town Idar-Oberstein since his 50th birthday. Was a guest at Demi Moore's and Ashton Kutcher's wedding. Eight directors cast him twice in their films: Blake Edwards, Amy Heckerling, Rob Reiner, Robert Benton, John McTiernan, Alan Rudolph, M. Night Shyamalan and Quentin Tarantino. Along with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Charlton Heston, Willis was one of very few Hollywood celebrities to publicly support the Iraq war. While visiting the troops in 2003, he offered $1 million of his own money for the man who would capture Saddam Hussein. When Hussein was captured, it turned out that military rules prevent troops from collecting such a reward. Served as a delegate at the Republican National Convention in 1992. In 2000 he was unable to narrate a biographical film of previous presidents to be shown at the RNC due to scheduling conflicts. Has worked closely with two promising child stars: Miko Hughes in Mercury Rising and Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense. The boys had major roles in the films opposite him. Often supports the careers of other actors he has met on set, and asks they be given supporting roles on later films, most famously Michael Clarke Duncan, whom he worked with on The Whole Nine Yards, asked for him on _Armageddon (1998)_ and and suggested him to the producers of The Green Mile. Other actors include Billy Bob Thornton (_Armageddon (1998)_ , Bandits), Johnny Messner (Tears of the Sun, _Whole Ten Yards, The (2004)_ ), Nick Chinlund (Tears of the Sun, The Kid) and Cole Hauser (Hart's War, Tears of the Sun). He also insisted on Matthew Perry for the "Yards" movies, in return for appearing on Perry's Friends sitcom. Announced his intention to make a pro-war film in which American soldiers will be depicted as brave fighters for freedom and democracy. It will be based on the exploits of the heavily decorated members of "Deuce Four", the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry, which has spent the past year battling insurgents in the northern Iraqi town of Mosul. Willis attended "Deuce Four"'s homecoming ball this month in Seattle, Washington, where the soldiers are on leave, along with Stephen J. Eads, the producer of Armageddon and The Sixth Sense. The actor said that he was in talks about a film of "these guys who do what they are asked to for very little money to defend and fight for what they consider to be freedom". Willis is likely to take on the role of the unit's commander, Lieutenant- Colonel Erik Kurilla (November 2005). Honored in Paris for his contribution to the film industry, by the French government. The actor was made an Officier Dans L'ordre Des Arts Et Des Lettres (Officer In The Order Of Arts And Letters) at a ceremony in the capital, where he was presented with his honor by French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres. de Vabres said, "This is France's way of paying tribute to an actor who epitomizes the strength of American cinema, the power of the emotions that he invites us to share on the world's screens and the sturdy personalities of his legendary characters." Willis replied in French that he was "very touched" to receive his medal, adding, "Thank you France and Culture Minister for this great, great honor." (13 April 2005). In November 2005 he offered $1 million of his own money to anyone who turns in al-Qaeda terror leaders Osama bin Laden, Aiman Al-Zawaheri or 'Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi' , the alleged brains behind the 9/11 attacks. Willis announced his reward on US television show Rita Cosby Live & Direct, where he also criticized what he claimed was biased media coverage of the Iraq war. Appointed by President George W. Bush as national spokesman for Children in Foster Care. (23 July 2002) His performance as John McClane in the "Die Hard" trilogy is ranked #46 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time. He and Linda Fiorentino were employed as bartenders in the early 1980s at the Kamikaze Club in New York City. Has the distinction of playing two psychologists who have suffered serious work-related emotional trauma; Dr. Bill Capa in _Color of Night (1994)_ and Dr. Malcolm Crowe in The Sixth Sense. Ironically, "The Color of Night" was a box office bomb and was widely ridiculed by critics, while "The Sixth Sense" became a box office smash and received several Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Little Richard presided over his wedding to Demi Moore and Ally Sheedy was one of the bridesmaids. Married Demi Moore at the Golden Nugget Hotel in Las Vegas Turned down the role of Sam Wheat in Ghost because he didn't think the plot would work and that playing a ghost would be detrimental to his career. Ironically, he played a ghost in The Sixth Sense, which was a critical success and is widely regarded as one of his best performances. He apologized to Colombia after blaming the nation for America's drug problems. The star insisted the United States is as much to blame for the prolific trade and confessed he didn't mean to single out any one country as the supplier. He told the New York Daily News, "I said Colombia because it was the first country to come to mind." The actor was dubbed "ignorant" and "ungrateful" by the Colombian president for his comments in March 2006, and advised not to base his arguments on "Hollywood clichés". In November 2000 he urged his fans to vote for Republican candidate George W. Bush in the presidential election. He told an interviewer, "If you guys vote for Al Gore, you're out of your minds ... Gore's a knucklehead ... just the lying and mendacity of the last eight years of the regime that Al Gore was a part and parcel of ... I mean, there is only so much lying the American people will take before they go, 'Uh, this doesn't seem like a good idea.' You have to look at what he does and what he stands for." Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a ceremony attended by his friends Don Johnson, Sylvester Stallone and Kevin Costner. (16 October 2006). Stepfather of his three daughters with Demi Moore is Ashton Kutcher. Has three younger siblings: Florence, David and Robert. In 1988 Willis attended a fund raiser for a Democrat running for Senate. In the following year, he and Demi Moore worked with legislator Tom Hayden to shut down a nuclear power plant in California. In a Playboy interview near that time, Willis sounded like the stereotypical Hollywood liberal. Citing water pollution and ozone depletion, he moaned, "We are literally destroying the planet." He blasted then President Ronald Reagan for dubbing the Soviet Union "the evil empire." He said military corporations had killed the Kennedy brothers and were "setting up [Vice President] Bush to be the next President." Willis argued that "this country needs a leader who can say, 'I want to help the people.'" Who did he have in mind? Hayden, the darling of LA's left. Then, one presidential election later, Willis was at the Republican National Convention in Houston - backing Bush. In _Armageddon (1998/ I)_ , Willis is first seen driving golf balls at a Greenpeace ship protesting oil drilling - a self-mocking reference to his politics but also a reminder of his own dramatic flip-flop. Often supports the careers of other actors he has met on set, and asks they be given supporting roles on later films, most famously Michael Clarke Duncan, whom he worked with on The Whole Nine Yards, asked for him on Armageddon and and suggested him to the producers of The Green Mile. Other actors include Billy Bob Thornton (Armageddon, Bandits), Johnny Messner (Tears of the Sun, The Whole Ten Yards), Nick Chinlund (Tears of the Sun, The Kid) and Cole Hauser (Hart's War, "Tears of the Sun" (2003)). He also insisted on Matthew Perry for the "Yards" movies, in return for appearing on Perry's Friends sitcom. Has been in eleven movies with numbers in the title: The First Deadly Sin, Twelve Monkeys, Four Rooms, The Fifth Element, The Sixth Sense, The Whole Nine Yards, 16 Blocks, The Whole Ten Yards, Die Hard 2, Loaded Weapon 1 and Ocean's Twelve. Has the distinction of playing two psychologists who have suffered serious work- related emotional trauma: "Dr. Bill Capa" in Color of Night and "Dr. Malcolm Crowe" in The Sixth Sense. Ironically, Color of Night was a box-office bomb and was widely ridiculed by critics, while The Sixth Sense became a box-office smash and received several Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. During the Lebanon crisis Willis signed his name on an ad in the Los Angeles Times in support of Israel, along with Nicole Kidman and numerous other Hollywood celebrities. He was the only celebrity that attended Julia Roberts' wedding to Daniel Moder. Huge supporter of NFL team New York Jets. Co-founder of "Planet Hollywood" together with Demi Moore, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger (1991).