The weekend is almost about to start and I’m looking forward to it. But the start of the weekend isn’t complete without a new “Many Faces of…”. This week’s star is Bruce Willis (Bruce being is middle name, Walter his first), who was born in Germany and moved to the US in 1957. When he was young he used to stutter, but lost this as he grew up.
Before going into movies he worked as a security guard at a power plant, transported work crews and was a private investigator. He started his career on TV, appearing in an episode of Miami Vice and being the lead in Moonlighting (a show which lasted five seasons).
His big breakthrough in movies is obviously his role as John McClane in Die Hard and cemented him as an action star. Since then he has appeared in a lot of movies. Besides acting he’s also a musician and had various solo albums.
It’s clear that Willis has done a lot of movies and picking out my personal favorite was hard. He’s great in the Die Hard series and in Twelve Monkeys, but I’ll go for his role in Pulp Fiction as Butch Coolidge, the boxer who has to go on the run because he didn’t go down as he was supposed to. The scene in the shop where he is deciding which weapon he should choose is great.
What’s your favorite Bruce Willis role?
Roles that you mentioned are awesome. My favorite role of his is from The Fifth Element. I loved that film when I was a kid.
I can’t remember too much from The Fifth Element, I guess it’s one I should be rewatching.
as much as I loved his role in Pulp Fiction, i’ll always love his role as John Mclane first and foremost
Yeah, it’s the one that’s he will be remembered for most.
Man. so many great choices when it comes to Bruce Willis! I like a lot of his work! I, too, am one that enjoys The Fifth Element for all that it was and dared to be. Cooky, action, drama, scifi, just plain fun. I think, though, that I would still have to go with Die Hard as my favorite role. I will watch that movie whenever it comes on tv!
I really have to rewatch Die Hard as well…I think I only saw it once and loved it. I have it in my collection, time to check it out again!
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Plenty cartoon characters he played, I never knew. I don’t know if I could pick just one. But ‘Die Hard’ is a memorable part for him. I remember him a lot in ‘Armageddon’ though.
It surprised me as well! That’s the reason I also love doing this series, sometimes you have these nice little surprises.
Great choice, Nostra! I like Bruce a lot, I’ve seen quite a few of his films, even the obscure ones like The Color of Night (boy there’s so much sex in that movie!) But my fave role of his is John McClane in Die Hard trilogy of course, and also in M Night’s Unbreakable.
Thanks Ruth. He’s one of those actors I watch in almost anything, but still there are quite a lot of movies I have not seen yet. Unbreakable is a good one.
His role as John McClane all the way 😀 My dad and I love it! Once in a while we see again one of the Die Hard movies! In fact I’ve been planning a marathon for the vacations :]
That sounds like a great tradition!
Gotta go with Die Hard and John McClane. Iconic for many good reasons!
Yeah, yippi ka yay!
There is no dispute from this camp. John McClane is my fave for this dude!!
My favorite is,of course, John McClane…his unforgettable role ever
John McClane gets lots of love from everyone 🙂
I don’t really like Bruce Willis, I’m afraid. I suppose my favorite of his films is PULP FICTION but in general I don’t like the guy.
Why don’t you like him?
Great choice, Nostra! Off the top of my head I really like him in Sin City, The Fifth Element and Die Hard. I’d go with the majority and say that John McClane is my favourite – he suits the role so well!
Thanks Claire! Some great choices 🙂
I love that scene in Pulp Fiction, in fact, when I talk with friends who haven’t seen Pulp Fiction, I basically use the phrase “Bruce Willis with a Katana” as the one giant hook to get people to watch the movie, and it works. Haha! Die Hard is a classic and solidified his role as the everyman action star compared to the super-man Rambo and Conan movies of Sly and Ah-nuld.
But one of my favorite Bruce Willis performances came from Hudson Hawk. Yeah, the movie may have bombed in the box office, but I’ve always found it to be pretty fun to watch, with a lot of decent comedic elements in it. I just never get tired of the fact that these two thieves plan their heist jobs by timing it with Frank Sinatra songs, and they’re fighting a covert military group who name themselves after chocolate bars.
Bruce Willis did his comedic scenes really well, sang a bit, and still pulled off a decent action hero vibe. Definitely up there with Die Hard and Pulp Fiction as my favorites
Can’t remember much of Hudson Hawk, but I know my sister used to watch that a lot when we were younger. You mentioning the chocolate bars does ring a bell.
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