On Wednesday, March 30, 2022, the world received the news that a cinematic era was coming to a close. The acclaimed actor Bruce Willis, star of a whole host of iconic films from the action classic Die Hard to the sublime comedy Moonrise Kingdom, would be retiring from acting. A sad moment for all who admired his work, it also marked the beginning of an outpouring of love for the actor and his long career of outstanding films. It is his commitment to taking on each role with a dedicated intensity that made each time he appeared on-screen a joyous one. He could go toe to toe with the greatest stage actors of all time while also fitting right in for more emotionally driven work that showed his range.
Lest we all forget, it should go without saying that Willis has been in some of the most fantastic films of all time. From Pulp Fiction to The Sixth Sense and beyond, he can do horror and action, science fiction and drama, all with a cutting sense of humor and gravitas that remains unmatched. There just are so many moments that make Willis such a deceptively dynamic performer. He plays characters that draw you in with a wicked charm and others who blow you away with their genuine sense of heart. In all his roles, Willis instills each film with an energy that could bring any story to life and leave you in awe of just what he brings to the table. He is irreplaceable and will always be, a presence all his own.
His career first began on the stage and on television in the great series Moonlighting before he was launched into the stratosphere when he played the unlikely hero John McClane in the aforementioned Die Hard. Scrappy and snarky, it is through his portrayal that it remains one of the greatest action films of all time to this day. Packing both wit and a lot of ass-kicking, Willis is a man struggling with his…