A Look Into Bruce Willis' Personal & Professional Life Through 10 Curious Facts

Apr 07, 2023 by apost team

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 March 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.

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 March 30, 2022, and has since received plenty of support from his fans, friends and family members amid the announcement that he was diagnosed with aphasia and, eventually, with dementia. 

Despite his fame, many people are still unaware of some interesting facts about the action star. Read on to learn more about Willis!

Flying From Germany To New Jersey

Willis is a German native. Born to a huge family in Idar-Obertein in West Germany, Willis’ youngest sister and two younger brothers were a few thousand miles away and migrated to New Jersey after his American soldier father was discharged from the military in 1957. They relocated to Carney’s Point, New Jersey. 

Dropping Out From College For Odd Jobs

Like many celebrities in Hollywood, Willis thought that school wasn’t for him. Right after high school, he worked plenty of odd jobs. Willis’ odd jobs include being a power plant security guard, a private investigator, and even becoming a bartender in New York. 

“He kept an entire joint entertained all night. He just kept the show going. He was amazing,” Willis’ friend John Goodman told The New York Post. 

After dropping out of Montclair State College and his bartending stint in New York, Willis also starred in a few television commercials before auditioning on off-Broadway shows. 

Willis’ Five Daughters

Willis’ strong facade and rock-hard exterior are no match for the tenderness and sweetness he has to show her five daughters. 

Willis married actress Demi Moore in 1987 and had three children. They had Rumer Glenn in 1988, Scout LaRue in 1991, and Tallulah Belle in 1994. Calling it quits in 1998, Willis thought he wouldn’t be a father anymore. 

Not until he wed American model Emma Hemming who later on became the mother of two of his youngest daughters. Willis and Hemming had Mabel Ray in 2012 and Evelyn Penn in 2014. 

Appearing On ‘Friends’

Willis’ iconic cameo on “Friends” should be credited to his co-star Matthew Perry, as it was a consequence of a lost bet he had with the star in their 2000 film “The Whole Nine Yards.”

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Advocating for Children

In 2002, former president George Bush appointed him as a national spokesman for Children in Foster Care.

Overcoming Stuttering 

With Willis’ innate eloquence and charming singing voice, it would be surprising to hear that the celebrated actor had stuttered before. 

It was only in his twenties that he overcame his speech impediment – a thing that he was often “trolled” for in the past – another reason why he refrains from discussing his childhood. 

“It wasn’t until I took on the role of a character in a play that I lost my babbling. It was phenomenal,” Willis wrote in his biography. 

Talking About Legacy

Asked by The Guardian how he wanted to be remembered, Willis was very upfront yet very humble. 

“As a guy who didn't always succeed, but who tried as hard as he could to do the best job that he could,” he said.

Hearing Loss

While working on “Die Hard,” Willis got into an accident that resulted in partial hearing loss in one of his ears. At the time, he had to have the instructions repeated to him for further understanding. 

Being Left-Handed

Interestingly, Willis belongs to the 10% of unique people in the world who are left-handed. In his movie “The Sixth Sense,” he had to learn how to write with the other hand to avoid spoiling the ending. 

Music And Broadway Career

Unbeknownst to many, Willis is more than just an action star; he is also a singer and a thespian. 

Willis released three albums, most notably his debut album, “The Return of Bruno,” which was released by Motown Records in 1987. He also made his Broadway debut in “Misery” in 2015, a play based on the 1987 novel by Stephen King. 

Are you a Bruce Willis fan? What among the 10 random facts were you most surprised to know? Do you have any interesting facts that we forgot to list? Let us know, and pass this on to the biggest Bruce Willis fan you know!