As Bruce Willis Turns 68, We Look Back At His Illustrious Career Before His Unfortunate Retirement

Mar 19, 2023

When it comes to top-notch actors in Hollywood, Bruce Willis is a name that many people would put on that list. He is most famous for his roles in action films but has also shown to have quite a diverse set of talents, appearing in films and television shows in a variety of genres and even showing off his skills as a singer. On top of that, Willis is also adored for his amazing qualities as a husband and father.

Willis was born as Walter Bruce Willis on Mar. 19, 1955, in Idar-Oberstein, Germany. He grew up with a German mother and an American father, who was stationed in the United States military at the time of his birth. In 1957, the family moved to the United States and raised Willis in Penns Grove, New Jersey.

Willis discovered his passion for acting in his teens and began participating in his high school's dramatic arts program. He later moved to New York City and appeared in a few off-Broadway plays before finally finding his footing in the world of television and film.

He had his breakthrough in 1985 with the TV series "Moonlighting," and has since appeared in over 70 films. Some of his most loved performances include his short time on the sitcom "Friends," his role in "The Sixth Sense," and his role as John McClane in the "Die Hard" franchise.

The notable star announced his retirement on Mar. 30, 2022, and has since received plenty of support from his fans, friends and family members. Let's take a look at Willis' amazing career.

Willis has been a pivotal figure in the acting world for more than 40 years, which is why fans and loved ones were left heartbroken when they heard the news that he was retiring from the field. During his acting career, Willis appeared in a variety of films and television shows. Some of his most popular films include "Pulp Fiction," "Armageddon," "The Sixth Sense," "Looper" and the "Die Hard" franchise.

As John McClane, Willis shaped the image of the American action hero. The dirty undershirt he wore as the character actually turned into a piece of cultural property and can now be seen in the National Museum of American History.

In his private life, Willis has had some ups and downs when it comes to finding love. He married two times and is the father of five daughters. Willis first married actress Demi Moore in 1987, and the two had three daughters together: Rumer, Scout and Tallulah. Although the couple was regarded as a Hollywood powerhouse at the time, the marriage was not working out behind closed doors. Willis and Moore divorced in 2000, but they have remained good friends and great co-parents ever since.

In 2009, Willis married his second wife, model Emma Heming. Some of his wedding guests even included his ex-wife and her then-husband, Ashton Kutcher. To this day, Willis and Heming are still happily married and have two more daughters together, Mabel and Evelyn Penn.

While many of his films brought him great fame and fortune, the "Die Hard" franchise is no doubt responsible for much of Willis' wealth. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he earned more than $50 million for all four movies and currently has an estimated net worth of $250 million.

Willis will always be an icon, but when asked what he is most famous for, Willis said, "Violence, laughter and 'Looper.'" Still, the retired actor admitted that he can't help but say his famous catchphrase from time to time: "Yippee ki yay!"

On Mar. 30, 2022, the world was left heartbroken at the announcement of Willis' retirement. Both Heming and Moore posted the same picture and caption on their respective Instagram accounts, explaining that Willis was diagnosed with aphasia and therefore needed to take a step away from acting.

According to John Hopkins, aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage in a specific area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension. This disorder leaves a person unable to communicate with others effectively and can sometimes even cause the afflicted to no longer understand the speech of others correctly. It is usually a symptom or by-product of underlying conditions.

On Feb. 16, 2023, Bruce's family again pulled together to deliver a crushing update on the star's health condition. Simultaneously on the Instagram accounts of Heming, Moore, Rumer, Scout and Tallulah, the women shared an "update about our beloved husband, father and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing." They continued:

"Since we announced Bruce's diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce's condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD). Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis."

The post then directs readers to a full statement posted on The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration's website that detailed Bruce's condition further.

"FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone. For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than we know. Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. As Bruce's condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research," the statement read.

According to the NHS, FTD affects the front and sides of the brain and can result in behavioral changes that include acting inappropriately, appearing selfish and loss of motivation." It also affects speech, wherein patients struggle to make the right sounds or use the correct tenses. It said most cases present in those between the ages of 45 to 65 and "tends to develop slowly and get gradually worse over several years."

The family urged for more awareness about the condition. "Ours is just one family with a loved one who suffers from FTD, and we encourage others facing it to seek out the wealth of information and support available through AFTD (@theaftd, theaftd.org). And for those of you who have been fortunate enough to not have any personal experience with FTD, we hope that you will take the time to learn about it, and support AFTD's mission in whatever way you can," the statement read.

Our thoughts go out to Bruce and his loved ones through this difficult time. Are you glad to see his family constantly surrounding him in love and light? Let us know, and pass this on to family and friends as well to spread awareness about FTD.