Bruce willis biography photos

Bruce Willis launched his Hollywood career in the '80s as an unknown New Yorker who landed the coveted role of brash private investigator David Addison opposite Cybill Shepherd's former model Maddie Hayes. "Moonlighting" made Willis an instant star as fans ate up the couple's chemistry and Willis' wisecracking asides. Willis, 67, recently announcedhe's retiring from acting after receiving a diagnosis of aphasia, a language disorder that has an impact on cognitive function. A look back at his four decades in the limelight.

Bruce Willis, right, in 's "Die Hard," the movie that would make the actor an action star. The film spawned four sequels and a cowboy-inflected catchphrase for the ages.

Willis in a classic pose in "Die Hard," in which he plays a snarky detective whose attempt to crash his estranged wife's work holiday party turns into the mother of all rescue missions. Willis performed barefoot and barely clothed in much of the movie, and did many of his own stunts. The appeal is simple: a somewhat average Joe who saves the day.

"Die Hard" was a spinoff machine, ultimately yielding five movies that racked up more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Among the sequels was 's "Die Hard With a Vengeance," in which Willis co-stars with Samuel L. Jackson opposite Jeremy Irons' menacing villain.

The '90s were golden for Willis, who hit the jackpot with almost every choice. While not all of his movies were critically acclaimed, the vast majority appealed to moviegoers, including 's "Armageddon," about a crew who rescue the Earth from an in-bound asteroid. 

Photographers surround Willis at a photocall for "Moonrise Kingdom" at Cannes Film Festival in

In , Willis plays a private eye investigating a murder alongside a disgraced ex-football star (Damon Wayans, left) in "The Last Boy Scout." The film's director, Tony Scott, found success with movies such as "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Days of Thunder." 

Willis, left, gets up close and personal with a young Brad Pitt in the dystopian sci-fi thriller "12 Monkeys." In it, Willis plays an ex-con sent back from the s to the s to investigate and hopefully stop a plague that has decimated mankind.

One '90s flop for Willis was 's "Hudson Hawk." The plot was a mix of silly and improbable, and featured a sprung-from-jail burglar who is tasked with stealing Leonardo da Vinci art that somehow ties into a quest for world domination. Fans and critics largely held their noses.

Willis jokingly fakes ankle pain while receiving his star during his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in

Willis rivets audiences in the thriller "The Sixth Sense," shown here with co-star Haley Joel Osment. The auspicious debut of director M. Night Shayamalan told the story of a child psychologist (Willis) whose 9-year-old patient claims he can talk to the dead. The film's twist remains one of the best in Hollywood history.

Willis seemed ubiquitous in the '90s, and had a memorable role in a movie that remains one of the best made by a then still up-and-coming Quentin Tarantino. In "Pulp Fiction" (), Willis plays a boxer on the run from gangsters he has double-crossed. 

Willis took to outer space a few times in his career, including a star turn in Luc Besson's "The Fifth Element," co-starring with Ian Holm (left) and Milla Jovovich. 

Willis holds his own with an army of gun-toting mutant aliens in "The Fifth Element," a breakout vehicle for a then-unknown Chris Tucker.

The movie "Glass" reunites Willis with director Shyamalan, featuring Willis (right, with Jackson, left, and James McAvoy) as a superhuman vigilante.

Jackson, left, and Willis in 's "Unbreakable." The duo ultimately starred in five movies together, including "Pulp Fiction."

Willis and Justin Long look for trouble in "Live Free or Die Hard." The "Die Hard" franchise accounts for five of the more than films Willis made during his long career.

Shyamalan, left, Sarah Paulson, Willis, Jackson, McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy attend the British premiere of "Glass."

One of Willis' most recent feature films is the Edward Norton noir crime thriller "Motherless Brooklyn." Stars Willem Dafoe, Willis and Norton attend the premiere during the New York Film Festival.

Willis fancied himself a blues singer, and in the spirit of the late great John "Blues Brother" Belushi, created a singing alter ego named Bruno, who even released an album, "The Return of Bruno." Willis occasionally indulged his musical passion, such as this performance at "A Great Night in Harlem" in

Although Willis shied away from being pegged as either a Democrat or Republican, he did trot out his own Donald Trump impression on late-night television over the years.

Willis loved to ham it up on late-night shows, including this appearance with David Letterman. In , Willis once hosted to cover for an ailing Letterman.

Willis was the subject of a brutal and at times bizarre celebrity roast in Speaking to reporters afterward, who asked about the nature of the jokes, Willis didn't answer the question directly but instead commented, "My head is my head."

Willis (right) and Jackson laugh it up together at Comic-Con. The duo appeared together most memorably in "Pulp Fiction," "Die Hard With a Vengeance" and "Unbreakable."

Late in Willis' career, he opted increasingly for big paydays that required only a day or two of filming. Most of these efforts went straight to video. In "Apex," Willis plays a familiar role, that of an ex-cop imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. 

Willis, right, in 's "Red," shakes hands with Ernest Borgnine. 

Willis stars in "Deadlock," about a wanted criminal leading a team of mercenaries who seize an energy plant and hold everyone inside hostage, leaving a retired elite army ranger as the only guy who can save the day.

In , Willis took a leading role in "Vice," a sci-fi movie about a futuristic resort where customers can live out their fantasies with humanlike artificial beings. As with many of the actor's direct-to-video roles, the movie was roundly panned.

Willis (right, with Simon Phillips) plays an injured cop held hostage in the direct-to-video action movie "Survive the Game."

Megan Fox and Willis are FBI agents looking into a Florida serial killer in the cop thriller "Midnight in the Switchgrass."

Bruce Willis and his daughter Tallulah celebrate Willis' 60th birthday in New York in

Willis and Moore, with daughters Tallulah Belle (bottom), Rumer and Scout (center) and Ashton Kutcher attend the premiere of "Charlie's Angels 2: Full Throttle" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Willis has a close relationship with ex-wife Moore.

Willis and his second wife, model and actress Emma Heming,. take in a sporting event together. Willis and Heming share two daughters in addition to his three with Moore. 

Willis hits the road after taping "Late Show With David Letterman" in New York. 

At a party celebrating the release of 's "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For," Willis took the mic, reprising his role as Bruno the blues singer. Willis released an album called "The Return of Bruno" as his career was taking off.

Willis takes it on the chin from Rocky, his fellow action movie star Sylvester Stallone. The two were featured in "The Expendables" movies along with other big action heroes.

Willis and Laurie Metcalf take their curtain call during the first Broadway performance of "Misery," based on the Stephen King book (and later movie) about a novelist and his fan and tormentor. Willis was not a stranger to the stage, having started out as a theater actor.

Willis and daughter Rumer in In March , Willis’ family announced the actor was retiring from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate.

Willis applauds alongside wife Heming and daughter Tallulah at a taping of "Dancing With the Stars."

Willis and clan gathered in on Broadway to celebrate the theater debut of his daughter Rumer, who played Roxie in "Chicago." From left: Heming, Rumer, Bruce Willis, Tallulah, Moore and Scout.

Willis poses for photographers after being awarded the medal of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French culture minister in Paris in

In this intimate moment from Willis' 60th birthday party in in New York City, the actor sits with legendary singer Tony Bennett. 

Willis (right) and comedian Bill Murray ham it up and share popcorn at a screening of "Rock the Kasbah" in in East Hampton, Long Island, a longtime haunt of the rich and famous.

Willis poses for USA TODAY in front of the building that made him famous in "Die Hard." The photo was taken as Willis was doing publicity in for the final film in the billion-dollar franchise, "A Good Day to Die Hard."

Willis poses shortly before his Broadway debut in "Misery," based on the Stephen King novel. In nearly 40 years, Willis has starred in more than movies after making his mark in television. While there have been more buff action hereos over the years, few others possess the casual smirk that made every Willis performance a romp.