Bruce Willis' Real Name: Walter Bruce Willis

Quick answer: Bruce Willis' real name is Walter Bruce Willis. He was born on March 19, 1955, in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany, where his American father was serving in the U.S. Army. He goes by his middle name, Bruce (Britannica). He retired from acting in 2022, and his family disclosed in 2023 that he has frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Early life

His mother, Marlene, was German, and his father, David, was an American soldier. The family moved to Carneys Point, New Jersey, when Bruce was a toddler. He had a stutter as a child and found that acting helped him overcome it. He studied drama at Montclair State College, then worked in New York theater and as a bartender.

Moonlighting

Willis's breakthrough came as detective David Addison opposite Cybill Shepherd on ABC's Moonlighting (1985–89). The role won him an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

Die Hard and movie stardom

As NYPD officer John McClane in Die Hard (1988), Willis became one of Hollywood's top action stars. He played the role in four sequels through 2013. Other highlights:

• Pulp Fiction (1994), as boxer Butch Coolidge.
• 12 Monkeys (1995).
• The Fifth Element (1997) and Armageddon (1998).
• The Sixth Sense (1999), as child psychologist Malcolm Crowe.
• Unbreakable (2000), Sin City (2005) and Looper (2012).
• He won a second Emmy for a guest role on Friends (2000).

Health and current status

In March 2022, his family announced he was stepping away from acting after an aphasia diagnosis. In February 2023, they shared a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia. In 2026 his wife, Emma Heming Willis, launched the Emma & Bruce Willis Fund for Dementia Research and Caregiver Support with the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (People). Family members say he receives care in a separate home near the family and is "doing OK" for someone with FTD. We don't report unverified insider claims about his condition.

Family

Willis was married to Demi Moore from 1987 to 2000. They have three daughters: Rumer, Scout and Tallulah. He married Emma Heming in 2009, and they have two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn. The blended family has spoken about supporting him together.