Bruce Willis Waited 54 Years For The Love Of His Life

Mar 15, 2022

When it comes to top-notch actors in Hollywood, Bruce Willis is a name that many people would put on that list. The actor is most famous for his roles in action films, but he has shown himself to have quite a diverse set of talents, as he's appeared in films and television shows in a variety of genres, from comedy to action blockbusters.

He first made a name for himself on the TV series "Moonlighting" before he made the switch to movies. His most famous roles are in the films "Die Hard," "Pulp Fiction," "The 5th Element," "Armageddon," "The Sixth Sense," "Looper" and more. 

But as well as being an esteemed actor, Bruce is also adored for his amazing qualities as a husband and father. In the 1980s, he and actress Demi Moore famously got together and after they wed in 1987 they started a family of their own. Together, they had three daughters named Rumer, Scout and Tallulah Willis. But their relationship wasn't meant to be and in 2000, the couple got divorced. 

Following that, Bruce was single for quite a while and he was also engaged to model Brooke Burns in 2004, however that didn't work out. Then he met Emma Heming at the age of 54 and finally, the actor began to believe in the true power of love. The couple got married in 2009 and soon after had two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn.

Since then, Bruce has spoken publicly about how being with his wife made him a happier person and how important love is. It's wonderful to see the actor truly happy now that he's found the love of his life!  

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

As a teen, Bruce spoke with a stutter but he found that acting on stage helped reduce it. This led him to realize his passion for acting in his teens and he then participated in his high school's dramatic arts program. After he graduated from high school in 1973, Bruce worked a series of odd jobs before he decided to give acting a go. These included being a security guard at a nuclear power plant and a private investigator — a job that would come in handy when he played one in the TV show "Moonlighting" and the movie "The Last Boy Scout."

He soon enrolled in the drama program at Montclair State University before he left to move to New York City. Bruce appeared in a few off-Broadway plays before he finally found his footing in the world of television and film. He had his breakthrough in 1985 when he appeared in "Moonlighting" opposite Cybill Shepherd. The role earned him an Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award and established him as a comedic actor.

After the show's run, he turned his focus to dramatic and action roles, and he's 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. 

Bruce's career may have brought him fame but it's also brought him a very successful life, including wealth. While many of his films have been hits, the "Die Hard" franchise is no doubt responsible for much of the actor's wealth. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he earned $5 million for the first movie, $7.5 million for the second, $15 million for the third and $25 million for the fourth.

He's also been sure to be financially smart with his money and has invested in properties. Back in 2007, the New York Observer reported that Eugenia Kaye sold her Trump Place apartment to the actor for $4.26 million. Burce had purchased the home as the trustee of The Bruce Willis Family Trust and took out a $3.408 million mortgage and paid the rest in cash.

In 2013, Bruce listed his home in Turks and Caicos for sale for a whopping $33 million, according to CNBC. The actor had previously purchased the grounds in 2000 and finished constructing the home in 2004.

According to The Numbers, the actor is ranked 15th of the highest-grossing actors in a leading role, as films featuring him grossed about $5 billion worldwide. It's easy to see how the actor has such a great fortune based on all of his past experiences at the box office and in business. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he has an estimated net worth of $250 million.

It's evident that Bruce is a well-known icon, but when asked what he is most famous for, he said, "Violence, laughter and 'Looper.'" Still, the actor added that he can't help but say his famous catchphrase from time to time, "Yippee ki yay!"   

But apart from his acting career, Bruce is also well known for his personal life. His first incredibly public relationship was with Moore, who he met in 1987 at the premiere of the movie "Stakeout." The couple's love story moved quickly and in November of that year, they tied the knot. Shortly afterward they started a beautiful family together and welcomed three daughters into the world: Rumer, born in 1988, Scout, born in 1991 and Tallulah, born in 1994.

While the couple appeared to be happy in the public eye, there were some complications behind the scenes. They shocked the world in June 1998 when they announced their separation and filed for divorce two years later. According to Us Weekly, their divorce was finalized the same day they submitted their paperwork in Oct. 2000. However, later on, Bruce admitted that he didn't know why their marriage failed. He said:

"I still love Demi. We're very close. We have three children whom we will continue to raise together, and we're probably as close now as we ever were. We realize we have a lifelong commitment to our kids. Our friendship continues. The institution has been set aside … It's difficult to live your life and marriage under a magnifying glass, which is what happens to movie star couples."

Moore later opened up about the issues within her marriage to Bruce in her memoir "Inside Out." As per Showbiz CheatSheet, she wrote:

"We had a whirlwind, truncated infatuation that morphed into a full-on family, all in our very first year. When reality set in, I don't know if we really knew each other." 

However, years later, the former couple proved that even though they weren't great romantic partners, they were great co-parenting partners. In 2019, Moore said:

"It's a funny thing to say, but I'm very proud of our divorce."  

She added, "I think that we did a magnificent job of making sure that our children knew they were loved." Over the years, they each engaged in other relationships. Moore was famously married to Ashton Kutcher for eight years, and he became a stepfather to her three children.

Bruce also eventually remarried, but not before he had a difficult period on his own. Following his divorce from Moore, Bruce got engaged to model Brooke Burns in 2004. But after 10 months together, the couple called it quits and never married. The actor spent a lot of time being single and later admitted to W Magazine in 2009 that it was difficult and he was in a “dark place.” He said:

“I spent the last 10 years single and, for the most part, unhappy. In a dark place. I never thought that being with someone else was the answer. I would say, 'I'm alone, but I'm not lonely.'”

However, that all changed when he met Heming. According to the actor, it only took one date for the two to fall madly in love with each other. He said in the same interview, as reported by Access Online: 

“We went on one date, on the Friday before Emma was getting ready to move back to New York, and then we fell mad crazy in love ... When you think about where are you going to find that big love of your life, you seldom think it’s someone you already know. You think it’s someone you’re yet to meet.” 

Ever the doting partner, Bruce told W Magazine, "Then I started hanging around Emma, and on a day-to-day basis my life became much happier.” The actor added, "I went from ‘F*** love’ to ‘Love is truly the answer.'"  

Bruce and Heming got married in 2009 and now have two daughters together, Evelyn and Mabel. A far cry from his unhappy time alone, the actor now has five daughters, a loving wife and a close friend in Moore. The big blended family gets along well and even regularly takes photos together for social media. Bruce told W Magazine, "We’ve become like a tribe." 

Nearly 13 years after they got married, the couple is still going strong. For their 10 year anniversary in 2019 they decided to say “I do” once again in front of their family — including Bruce's ex, Moore. Heming spoke to Us magazine about Moore being there and said:

“She welcomed me into her family like I welcomed her into ours."

She added:

“Again, I have so much respect for her. I have so much respect for how Bruce and Demi worked through their divorce to be able to put their children first. I learned so much from that and grew so much from watching that. It was important for her to be there. She was at our first wedding. I loved having her there again. I wouldn’t do it without her.”

The blended family seems to get along extremely well, and in March 2021, Moore celebrated International Women's Day by uploading a picture of Heming to her Instagram with a heartfelt caption. She wrote: 

"I #SeeHer as family who I am honored to call a friend. Our children are sisters and yet there is no name for what our family connection is to one another. We are mothers united, sisters bonded on this crazy adventure of life."

Moore also called her "an absolutely gorgeous woman" and "absolutely inspiring." 

Bruce's relationship with the women in his life is truly admirable. He's proven that it's possible to remain on good terms with your ex, while also having a harmonious blended family in which everyone gets along. During the "Comedy Central Roast of Bruce Willis," Moore even attended and made fun of her ex-husband's bald head and career path, but ultimately praised his fathering skills. Although he and Moore weren't inspiring as lovers, they have proven themselves to be inspiring as parents.

Meanwhile, Bruce, always a gentleman, said he’s grateful to be surrounded by so many wonderful women in his life. He said in honor of women's day:

“I worship women and I always felt safer when I am around them."

What's more, the Hollywood heartthrob might be more recognized for his action roles in movies, but the actor has a little-known soft side too — and that’s for Heming. Bruce spoke candidly about how he never wants to be away from his wife, who's the love of his life. He told Closer in 2017:

"I don’t want to be away from Emma at all ... It’s the most singular relationship I’ve ever had in my life." 

For the English actress, 43, humor is a key factor to their marital success. Heming said of her husband:

"We have a great foundation ... he makes me laugh."

She added, "You’ve got to keep laughing because if you stop, you’re going to have some issues." She described her husband as "totally silly" and "a great father to our girls." Despite having met when Bruce was already 54, the couple's relationship is proof that when it comes to finding true love, it's never too late.

What do you think about Bruce Willis’ loving relationship with his second wife Emma Heming? Do you think it's great that his current and former wife and all of his children get along so well? Let us know your thoughts, then make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!