Bruce Willis Steps Back From Acting – His Five Must-See Movies for Fans
He’s been on our screens for over forty years and has uttered some of our favorite lines. Now, Bruce Willis is stepping back.
Bruce Willis is retiring after being diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that affects the ability to speak, write and understand language, both verbal and written. His family released a joint statement:
“To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.
This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him. As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up’ and together we plan to do just that.
Love,
Emma, Demi, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, & Evelyn”
A Storied Career
Willis’ acting career has spanned over 40 years, starting with uncredited roles in films like The Verdict. It really took off after he took on the role of jazz loving PI David Addison in Moonlighting on ABC and took the lead in action classic Die Hard. From there he became one of the decades top action stars thanks to his physicality and comedic timing. He also made a name for himself in dramatic roles in movies like The Sixth Sense.
His movies have grossed over $5 billion worldwide. He’s been nominated for five Golden Globes (taking one home for Moonlighting) and three Emmys (won one for Moonlighting and another for Friends).
Willis has a long and varied filmography – here are my favorites. What are yours?
The Fifth Element
The actor’s take on Corbin Dallas is a perfect mix of action star, comedian, and romantic lead. He fits right into Luc Besson’s world and saves the day (and the universe).
The Sixth Sense
Malcolm Crowe, a child therapist, is the opposite of most of the characters the actor is known for. He’s reserved, soft spoken, and unsure of himself. It’s Willis’ best purely dramatic performance.
Twelve Monkeys
While Brad Pitt is the scene stealer in this movie, Willis plays a great straight man to his crazy and anchors this spinning time travel story.
Looper
While the makeup done on Joseph Gordon-Levit isn’t the best, the interactions between he and Willis are what makes this a fave for me.
Die Hard
The original. The movie set the standard for action movie and Bruce Willis set the bar for what action leads would look and sound like for decades. It’s top notch.
