In the 1980s, the casting process for the iconic film “Die Hard” was a challenge. A-list actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood, and Richard Gere all turned down the role of NYPD detective John McClane. Bruce Willis wasn’t the first, second, or even third choice for the role. However, his agent, Arnold Rifkin, saw an opportunity and negotiated a hefty $5 million acting fee for Willis.
Despite having a great script, the “Die Hard” team was struggling to find someone to play the lead role. Rifkin knew about their difficulties and gave them an ultimatum. He told them to either close the deal by Friday or Willis would go to Japan to do commercials. With the pressure on, the team eventually agreed to Willis’ terms.
Initially, Willis had reservations about taking on the role due to his commitment to the TV show “Moonlighting.” However, when his co-star Cybill Shepherd announced her pregnancy, Willis suddenly had an 11-week window of availability. Despite doubts from the creator of “Moonlighting,” who believed Willis would be laughed off the screen, Willis signed the $5 million deal.
On the first day of filming, a stunt was planned to test Willis’ capabilities. He was taken to the top floor of a parking garage and covered in a gel-like substance to prevent him from catching fire. With only black pants on, Willis jumped off the five-story garage onto an inflatable airbag. The force of the stunt almost caused him to miss the bag, and the crew rushed to his side to ensure he was okay.
While Willis found the situation amusing, his then-girlfriend Demi Moore was terrified. She witnessed the stunt and later wrote about it, expressing her concern for his safety. Despite the potential danger, the film’s director, John McTiernan, insisted that they didn’t put Willis in harm’s way and emphasized the importance of safety on set.
“Die Hard” went on to become the highest-grossing action film of 1988 and launched Willis’ successful career in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, in March 2022, it was announced that Willis would be retiring from acting due to an aphasia diagnosis. Subsequently, it was revealed that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia or FTD.
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