With a career spanning more than four decades, Bruce Willis has left a lasting mark on Hollywood. From his early TV days to becoming one of the most iconic action movie stars, Willis’ unforgettable performances in movies such as “Die Hard,” “Pulp Fiction,” and “The Sixth Sense” have captivated audiences through every era of his profession. He retired from the film industry in 2022 when he was diagnosed with aphasia, which his family later confirmed had progressed to frontotemporal dementia.
Take a look back at the actor’s life in photos.
Bruce Willis as a child, year unknown. Good Morning America/Youtube
Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd attending the 37th annual Emmy Awards, held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California on September 22, 1985. Getty Images
Bruce Willis with cigarette in a scene from the film “Die Hard” in 1988. Getty Images
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore at the Emmys at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, circa 1988. WireImage
Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis pose for “Moonlighting” Season 5 promotional shots in December 1988. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Bruce Willis and his then-wife Demi Moore at the premiere of “Chances Are” held at the Mann Bruin Theatre in Los Angeles, California, 8th March 1989. Getty Images
Demi Moore and Bruce Willis at the opening of Planet Hollywood at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota on December 12, 1993. Getty Images
“Pulp Fiction” cast from left: Samuel L Jackson, Maria de Medeiros, director Quentin Tarantino, Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman and John Travolta seated on a sofa at the International Film Festival, Cannes, France, May 21, 1994. Sygma via Getty Images
Bruce Willis on the set of “Die Hard III” in 1994. Lawrence Schwartzwald
Bruce Willis in a scene for “Pulp Fiction” in 1994. Miramax
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore attend the 54th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 19, 1997 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images
Demi Moore and Bruce Willis with their daughters Rumer Willis, Tallulah Willis and Scout Willis at the “Bandits” Westwood Premiere on October 4, 2001 at Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, California Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Bruce Willis with Julia Roberts and Matt Damon in 2004’s “Ocean’s Twelve.” Warner Brothers
Bruce Willis, Rumer Willis and Demi Moore attend “Love, Loss & What I Wore” new cast member celebration at B Smith’s Restaurant on March 24, 2011 in New York City. WireImage
Rumer Willis and father Bruce Willis pose backstage as Rumer makes her broadway debut as “Roxie Hart” in Broadway’s “Chicago” at The Ambassador Theater on September 21, 2015 in New York City. FilmMagic
(L-R) Emma Heming, Rumer Willis, Bruce Willis, Tallulah Belle Willis, Demi Moore and Scout LaRue Willis pose backstage as Rumer makes her broadway debut as “Roxie Hart” in Broadway’s “Chicago” at The Ambassador Theater on September 21, 2015 in New York City. FilmMagic
Bruce Willis and Tallulah Willis celebrate Bruce Willis’ 60th birthday at Harlow on March 21, 2015 in New York City. WireImage
Emma Heming Willis and Bruce Willis attend Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on February 4, 2017 in New York City. GC Images
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore attend the after party for the Comedy Central Roast of Bruce Willis at NeueHouse on July 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images For Comedy Central
Bruce Willis in the audience during the Comedy Central Roast of Bruce Willis at Hollywood Palladium on July 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
Bruce Willis speaks onstage during the Comedy Central Roast of Bruce Willis at Hollywood Palladium on July 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
Bruce and Emma Heming Willis at Disneyland on July 10, 2018. Emma Heming Willis/Instagram
(L-R) Rumer Willis, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Scout Willis, Emma Heming Willis and Tallulah Willis attend Demi Moore’s ‘Inside Out’ Book Party on September 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images for goop
Bruce Willis with his wife Emma Heming Willis on vacation with the sunset. Emma Heming Willis/Instagram
Bruce Willis and wife Emma Heming Willis attend the “Motherless Brooklyn” during the 57th New York Film Festival on October 11, 2019 in New York City. Getty Images for Film at Lincoln Center