Bruce Willis Biography- Walter Bruce Willis, born on March 19, 1955, is a retired American actor known for his iconic roles in both television and film. He first gained fame starring in the comedy-drama series Moonlighting (1985–1989) and solidified his status as an action hero with his portrayal of John McClane in the Die Hard franchise (1988–2013). Throughout his career, Willis has appeared in over a hundred films. His notable credits include The Last Boy Scout (1991), Pulp Fiction (1994), 12 Monkeys (1995), The Fifth Element (1997), Armageddon (1998), The Sixth Sense (1999), Unbreakable, The Whole Nine Yards (both 2000), Tears of the Sun (2003), Sin City (2005).
Bruce Willis Biography 2024
Walter Bruce Willis is a retired American actor. He achieved fame with a leading role on the comedy-drama series Moonlighting and has appeared in over a hundred films, gaining recognition as an action hero for his portrayal of John McClane in the Die Hard franchise.
Born: 19 March 1955 (age 69 years), Idar-Oberstein, Germany
Spouse: Emma Heming Willis (m. 2009), Demi Moore (m. 1987–2000)
Children: Rumer Willis, Tallulah Willis, Scout LaRue Willis
Height: 1.83 m
Parents: Marlene Willis, David Willis
Siblings: David Willis, Florence Willis, Robert Willis
Bruce Willis Biography 2024 Details
| Born | Walter Bruce Willis March 19, 1955 (age 69) Idar-Oberstein, West Germany |
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| Citizenship | United States |
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| Years active | 1980–2022 |
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| Works | Filmography |
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| Spouses | |
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| Children | 5, including Rumer |
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| Category | Singers Bio |
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Early Life and Education
Walter Bruce Willis was born on March 19, 1955, in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany. His mother, Marlene, was German, and his father, David Willis, was an American soldier. He has a younger sister, Florence, and two younger brothers, Robert (deceased) and David. After his father was discharged from the military in 1957, the family moved to Carneys Point, New Jersey. Willis has described his upbringing as rooted in a “long line of blue-collar people,” with his mother working in a bank and his father as a welder and factory worker.
Willis struggled with a stutter during his childhood. He attended Penns Grove High School in Carneys Point, where his classmates nicknamed him “Buck-Buck.” Joining the drama club helped him manage his stutter, and he was eventually elected student council president. He graduated in 1973. After high school, Willis worked as a security guard at the Salem Nuclear Power Plant and transported crew members at the DuPont Chambers Works factory. He eventually turned to acting after working as a private investigator, a role that would later influence his characters in Moonlighting and The Last Boy Scout.
Who is Bruce Willis?
Walter Bruce Willis is a retired American actor known for his breakthrough role in Moonlighting and his status as an action icon in the Die Hard series. He has released several music albums, made his Broadway debut in Misery, and received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe. With films grossing between $2.64 billion and $3.05 billion in North America, he is considered one of the highest-grossing actors in Hollywood.
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Bruce Willis Summary
| Real Name | Walter Bruce Willis |
| Alias | Bruce Willis |
| Net worth | Estimated $250 million |
| DOB(Age) | March 19, 1955 (69 years old) |
| Height | 6 feet |
| Weight | 83kg. |
| Gender | Man |
| Nationality | American |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Partner/Spouse | Demi Moore (m. 1987; div. 2000); Emma Heming (m. 2009) |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Profession | Actor, Voice-actor, Producer, Businessman |
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What is Bruce Willis’s Net Worth in 2024?
Bruce Willis’ net worth is estimated to be $250 million. He was once a member of Hollywood’s elite “$20 million man” club, alongside stars like Jim Carrey, Tom Cruise, and Julia Roberts. This is largely due to his ability to negotiate lucrative back-end deals, with his initial salary for Die Hard being $5 million, a figure he consistently surpassed in subsequent years.
How Did Bruce Willis Make His Money?
Bruce Willis primarily built his wealth through acting in over a hundred films, including his award-winning role in Moonlighting. His films collectively grossed between $2.64 billion and $3 billion.
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Sources of Income
Willis’s main source of income comes from his successful acting career, where he portrayed iconic roles in blockbuster films. He has also produced various projects, although details of his earnings from these endeavors are not publicly disclosed.
Acting Career
Bruce Willis’s breakout role as John McClane in Die Hard (1988) established his stardom. For the original film, he earned $5 million, which increased to $7.5 million for the sequel, $15 million for the third installment, and $25 million for the fourth, totaling at least $52 million from the franchise alone (approximately $70-80 million when adjusted for inflation). He took a notable pay cut of $800,000 for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994), which revitalized his career. His work in films like 12 Monkeys and The Fifth Element received critical acclaim, while other successful titles include Glass, Unbreakable, Split, Sin City, and Looper.
Overall, the four Die Hard films grossed over $1.1 billion, with Armageddon (1998) earning $553 million and The Sixth Sense (1999) becoming his highest-grossing film at $673 million. In the early 2000s, Willis earned approximately $55 million in 2000, mainly from The Kid and Unbreakable, earning $70 million and $46 million in 2001 and 2002, respectively. He consistently earned at least $20 million annually.
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Endorsements
Due to his fame, Willis endorsed Seagram’s Golden Wine Cooler, earning $7 million over two years, equivalent to around $17 million today after inflation. He ended this contract after he stopped drinking in 1988. In 2009, he represented Sobieski Vodka for a share of the business, but details on earnings from other endorsements remain scarce.
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Voice Acting
Willis provided his voice for Look Who’s Talking in 1989, earning $10 million, with a similar fee for the sequel.
Business Endeavors
In 2000, Willis co-founded Cheyenne Enterprises, a film production company, although he later stepped back to allow his partner Arnold Rifkin to take over. He was also an early promoter of Planet Hollywood alongside other stars, receiving compensation through an employee stock ownership plan. Additionally, Willis owns several small businesses in Hailey, Idaho, including The Mint Bar and The Liberty Theatre.
