Mar 19, 1955

Idar-Oberstein, West Germany

Bruce Willis is one of Hollywood's most beloved and iconic leading men. The actor sports an ever-present smirk, projects a constant stream of quips, and has virtually mastered the slow burn, but unlike some of his contemporaries with that approach, Willis never hesitates to let the audience know that it's partially done in goofy jest, or to reveal, at closer glance, a level of soft-hearted affability buried beneath it all.
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This juxtaposition initially served Willis well in big- and s... ... (read more...) mall-screen comedies, but in the late '80s, he switched gears by headlining John McTiernan's Die Hard (1988). In so doing, Willis carried his persona into barrel-chested action roles with equal force, and instantly established himself as one of the most bankable and versatile stars in contemporary filmdom.