Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is a retired American actor. His career began on the off-Broadway stage in the 1970s, and he then achieved fame with a leading role on the comedy-drama series βMoonlightingβ (1985β1989). He went on to appear in over 70 films, gaining widespread recognition as an action hero after his portrayal of John McClane in the βDie Hardβ franchise (1988β2013) and other subsequent roles.
Willis's other credits include βThe Last Boy Scoutβ (1991), βPulp Fictionβ (1994), β12 Monkeysβ (1995), βLast Man Standingβ (1996), βThe Fifth Elementβ (1997), βArmageddonβ (1998), βThe Sixth Senseβ (1999), βHart's Warβ (2002), βTears of the Sunβ (2003), βHostageβ (2005), βLucky Number Slevinβ (2006), βSurrogatesβ (2009), βMoonrise Kingdomβ (2012), βRock the Kasbahβ (2015), and βMotherless Brooklynβ (2019).
As a singer, Willis released his debut album The Return of Bruno in 1987, followed by two more successful albums in 1989 and 2001. He made his Broadway debut in the stage adaptation of Misery in 2015. Willis has received numerous accolades during his career, including a Golden Globe, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and two People's Choice Awards. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006.
In March 2022, Willis announced that he was retiring from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, which affects his ability to communicate. In February 2023, Willis' family announced that they had received a more accurate diagnosis and he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.