Bruce Willis has been retired from acting since 2022. In honor of his 70th birthday, his family has dedicated numerous heartfelt messages to him. A look back at his extraordinary career.
He saved humanity from an asteroid and embarked on a dark time-travel adventure in search of twelve monkeys. He loudly took out John Travolta, 71, in a bathroom, brought a spark of hope to the infamous Sin City, and neither Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman, 1946-2016) nor Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg (Gary Oldman, 66) could stop him from his heroic deeds on and off the Earth. Bruce Willis, who turns 70 on March 19, has delivered countless happy endings throughout his film career—except for himself.
March 30, 2022, marked an irreversible turning point in action cinema. On that day, the actor’s family announced in a joint statement that Willis could no longer continue his beloved profession due to aphasia, a condition that impairs the brain’s language center, forcing him to retire from acting immediately. Less than a year later, another devastating diagnosis followed: frontotemporal dementia. This incurable disease not only affects speech but also leads to personality changes and memory loss.
At this point, every film fan knew: Bruce Willis would never be the same again, never return to the screen. All the more reason why his 70th birthday should now serve as an opportunity to honor his life and achievements. His family, however, doesn’t just reflect on his professional success but also cherishes his role as a father and a great inspiration to his loved ones.
Bruce Willis Is His Daughter’s “Greatest of All Time”
His daughters, Scout Willis, 33, Rumer Willis, 36, and Tallulah Willis, 31, took to Instagram to send their father birthday wishes. Tallulah described the former action star as her “favorite friend,” saying she is proud to be his “baby Tallulah.” She also posted a photo of Bruce Willis in one of his most beloved films: Die Hard.
His middle daughter, Scout, wrote a more detailed tribute: “Happy birthday to the Greatest of All Time. Every day I thank the gods that 50% of my DNA comes from him. The music I make, the magic I create, and the magnetic mischief I stir up—that is my father’s living legacy in the world.” Alongside her heartfelt words and admiration, she shared numerous private photos spanning from her childhood to today. One thing is clear: Bruce Willis’ bond with his daughters remains incredibly strong.
A Rocky Start for Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis’ remarkable career began in an unexpected place—Germany. He was born in 1955 in the small town of Idar-Oberstein, Rhineland-Palatinate. When U.S. soldier David Willis and his wife Marlene welcomed their son Bruce on March 19, no one could have predicted the extraordinary career that lay ahead of him. However, his time in Germany was brief, too short for him to consider it home. At just eight months old, his family moved to the United States, settling in New Jersey.
Fans of action-packed films have a surprising quirk of Willis to thank for his Hollywood career: as a child and teenager, from ages 9 to 17, he struggled with a severe stutter. It wasn’t until he discovered acting that this changed—on stage, his stutter disappeared completely. In a moving speech for the American Institute for Stuttering in 2016, he recalled this “miracle” but also the years of bullying he endured as a child.
Regarding acting, one thing became immediately clear to him as a teenager: This is it. This is home. This is what I want to do. His talent was undeniable, but pursuing it required money. Since his parents were not financially well off, Willis had to work hard to chase his dream. He took a job as a security guard at a chemical factory until he could afford acting classes at Montclair State College.
From Romantic Lead to One-Man Army
When you hear the name Bruce Willis, you likely think of testosterone-fueled action films, preferably with him in a bloodstained white tank top. But at the beginning of his career, he was actually a romantic lead and heartthrob. Before he achieved fame—and before his hairline receded—he mostly appeared in romantic comedies, such as Blind Date, in which he flirted wildly with Kim Basinger.
One of his most memorable roles was his only lead in a TV series: Moonlighting. For five seasons, he charmed audiences as a private detective, engaging in witty, screwball-style banter with co-star Cybill Shepherd.
Then came 1988, and everything changed. Barefoot and armed, Willis shot his way through Die Hard, battling his way through the Nakatomi Plaza against hordes of villains led by Hans Gruber, brilliantly portrayed by Alan Rickman. The action franchise became so successful that it spawned four sequels—the last in 2013, featuring an older but still trigger-happy John McClane. His famous, albeit creatively translated, catchphrase remains unforgettable: “Yippie-Ya-Yeah, Schweinebacke” (originally: “Yippie-Ya-Yeah, Motherfucker”).
The rest is history. After this iconic performance, Willis starred in at least one blockbuster per year, including Pulp Fiction, 12 Monkeys, The Fifth Element, and Sin City. His impressive cinematic journey lasted until 2019 with Glass, the third film in the Unbreakable series—before his career took a downward turn into the thankless “direct-to-video” category.
The Premature End of His Career
Although Bruce Willis’ filmography technically extends to 2023—with 11 (!) films released the year before—the quality of these low-budget productions speaks for itself. In the end, the marketing strategies became almost cynical, with studios seemingly competing to label their projects as “Bruce Willis’ final film.”
During the filming of these interchangeable action flicks, Willis was already experiencing the early symptoms of his later dementia diagnosis. While these movies mark the end of his career, they do not define his legacy, which will forever be intertwined with film history.
His Family Is His Rock
Bruce Willis found personal happiness with two women. From 1987 to 2000, he was married to actress Demi Moore. The couple shares three daughters: Rumer, Scout LaRue, and Tallulah Belle. Later, even more female energy entered his life when he married model Emma Heming, 24 years his junior. Together, they had two more daughters in 2012 and 2014.
These seven women are his unwavering support system in the wake of his devastating diagnosis. They frequently share updates about his condition, post photos, and express loving messages to his devoted fans worldwide. Their message is clear: Bruce Willis may no longer be the seemingly invincible action hero we remember, but he is still here—facing his greatest adversary yet.
And for that, we say one last time: Yippie-Ya-Yeah, Schweinebacke!
