In early 1987, famous Hollywood producers Larry Gordon and Joel Silver were looking for an action hero.
He was working on an action story in which terrorists hijack a high-rise tower in Los Angeles. The script required a strong and fit fighter hero.
Due to contractual reasons, Frank Sinatra was the first priority for the film ‘Die Hard’, but Frank initially declined because he had acted as the hero in the 1968 film ‘The Detective’. Like ‘Die Hard’, this film was also based on the thriller novels of author Roderick Thorpe.
When the 70-year-old actor confirmed that his days of fighting terrorists were over, the producers approached the strongest candidate, Arnold Schwarzenegger. But the ‘Commando’, ‘The Terminator’ and ‘Predator’ star also turned it down as he preferred to try his luck opposite Danny DeVito in the comedy ‘Twins’.
Bruce Welles signs a contract with the National Museum of American History on June 27, 2007 in Washington. He donated items used in the ‘Die Hard’ movies (AFP)
More denials followed, and Richard Gere, Burt Reynolds, Harrison Ford, Sylvester Stallone, Nick Nolte, Don Johnson and Mel Gibson all apologized.
Bruce Wells was pretty low on the list. He had also previously backed out of the project, citing his commitment to the private detective TV show ‘Moonlighting’, in which he starred opposite Sable Shepard. But then, destiny created an opportunity for them.
Welles told ‘Entertainment Weekly’ in 2007: ‘It feels like a miracle happened. The show went off the air for 11 weeks when Sable Shepard lost hope and so it was the right time for me to take on the terrorists at the Nakatomi Tower in Los Angeles.’
Welles’ blockbuster turn as John McClane not only changed his life, but transformed him overnight from a beloved TV actor to a bankable ‘A-list’ movie star. Not only that, but Welles changed the meaning of being an action hero.
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Before the rise of Welles, the stars of ’80s thrillers had become impenetrable pillars. But Welles’s style of impressing was different, closer to humor, vulnerability and humanity.
They earned more than the $5 million given by Gordon and Silver. Gordon told The New York Times in 1988: ‘In this crazy world that we live in, Bruce was totally on the money in this role.’
He added: ‘For the project to be successful, you have to feel that the character is not going to survive, but Bruce is more made for everyman cinema than big stars.’
The announcement that Welles is suffering from aphasia, a form of brain damage that affects the expression and comprehension of language, and is retiring from acting is sad news for anyone who has enjoyed his easy acting style for decades. Have enjoyed.
Few moviegoers may not think so. His work is long, moody, and full of characters you won’t see any major actor playing, unabashedly obsessed with masculinity. Perhaps the best example of this is the fact that after ‘Die Hard’, he voiced a child in John Travolta and Christie Alley’s romantic comedy project ‘Look Who’s Talking’.
In the nineties, Welles maintained a balance between challenging action roles and other roles. Along with action-packed roles in Tony Scott’s cop film The Last By Scout, she also played comedic roles in Robert Zameckis’ satire on beauty, Death Becomes Her, in which she played the submissive Dr. Ernest Manville. He broke the stereotype about himself.
There was violence in his humor and humor in his violence. There are few better examples than the infamous Gump scene in the 1994 film ‘Pulp Fiction’ when Welles demonstrated his ability to smile in the depths of darkness.
Wells told GQ magazine in 2013: ‘It was a combination of great writing and terrible violence. There was only death everywhere. It’s a very strange day’ joke that was said and what happened at the time went on. To me there is romance in that. Drugs, violence and great writing.’
The massive success of ‘Pulp Fiction’ revived Welles’ career after notable flops ‘The Bonfire of the Vanities’ and ‘Hudson Hawk’ but he didn’t stop taking risks.
He starred in obscure science fiction films such as Terry Gilliam’s ’12 Monkeys’ in 1995 and Luc Besson’s ‘The Fifth Element’ in 1997. He also managed to find time to play the role of Drilling in Space, which was the highest-grossing film of 1998.
The following year, Welles changed style once again and earned a career-best rave from critics with his stellar performance as a child psychologist in M. Night Shyamalan’s horror psychological thriller The Sixth Sense.
Bruce Wells performs with his band in California on July 10, 2003 (AFP)
Over the past decade, Welles’ stardom has dimmed at the box office with his decisions to appear in poorly-received direct-to-video movies, but then notable performances like working with Wes Anderson in 2012’s Moonrise Kingdom. There are precedents and then he returned to the science fiction ‘Looper’, a film that Welles considers his best work.
Wells told E-Square magazine: ‘It’s the best I’ve ever done.’ Welles was praising Rian Johnson who went on to make films like ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ and ‘Noise Out’.
He said: ‘Ryan did an amazing job. He imagined a real story. They wrote it, sold it, stood by it, directed it and finished it. It’s hard to do that in this city.’
Johnson returned the compliment, saying: ‘He’s such a great actor himself.’
The director told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘The fact is that it’s Bruce Welles who uses his action star persona in very interesting ways to play this role.’
Welles’s transformation of what it means to be an action hero can be seen in the work of an entire era of his contemporaries, from the macho performances of Jason Statham and Vin Diesel to the jokes of Ryan Reynolds. can
However, it is unlikely that any of the actors who came after him will have a film collection as varied, interesting and thoroughly entertaining as Welles’s.
He has carved out a genre of his own, as he clarified in his own ‘Comedy Central Roast’ in 2018, ending the long-running controversy over whether or not ‘Die Hard’ should be considered a Christmas movie.
He announced to a cheering audience: ‘Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. It’s a badass Bruce Welles movie!’
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**Interview with Film Historian Dr. Emma Riley: The Evolution of Action Heroes and Bruce Willis’s Impact**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Riley. As a film historian, you’ve witnessed the evolution of action heroes over the decades. Let’s talk about Bruce Willis and his iconic role in “Die Hard.” What made his portrayal of John McClane so revolutionary for the action genre?
**Dr. Riley:** Thank you for having me! Willis’s portrayal of John McClane was groundbreaking because it brought a level of relatability and vulnerability to the action hero archetype. Prior to “Die Hard,” action heroes were often depicted as invincible warriors—think of characters played by Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Willis introduced a flawed, everyman character who could be hurt, scared, and even funny. This shift set the groundwork for future heroes who are more complex and relatable.
**Editor:** It’s interesting to note that Willis wasn’t the first choice for the role. He was relatively low on the list, being overshadowed by more established stars like Frank Sinatra and Arnold Schwarzenegger. What does this say about the unpredictability of Hollywood casting?
**Dr. Riley:** Exactly! Hollywood can be unpredictable, and casting decisions often hinge on numerous factors, including timing and availability. The fact that Willis was initially considered a lesser option highlights how subjective casting can be. Ultimately, it’s about finding the right fit for the character and sometimes, like in Willis’s case, the stars align perfectly at the right moment. When he stepped into McClane’s shoes, he transformed from a TV actor to an A-list superstar almost overnight.
**Editor:** You mentioned earlier that Willis’s McClane has a sense of humor and humanity—traits not typical of action stars at that time. How did that change audience expectations?
**Dr. Riley:** It changed everything. Audiences were tired of one-dimensional action heroes. With McClane, they found someone who responded to violence and danger with sarcasm and self-doubt. He was every bit a hero but also a character who felt genuine emotions. This opened the door for future action stars like Matt Damon and Chris Pratt, who also blend humor with heroics.
**Editor:** Bruce Willis has faced health challenges recently, which is disheartening for many fans. Considering his impact on the industry, how would you summarize his legacy?
**Dr. Riley:** Willis’s legacy is one of transformation. He shifted the paradigm of what an action hero could be. Beyond “Die Hard,” he explored various genres, illustrating his versatility as an actor. Films like “Pulp Fiction” and “The Sixth Sense” showed that he could tackle serious roles with depth, further cementing his place in cinematic history. His journey inspires many and reminds us of the various paths an actor’s career can take.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Riley, for sharing your insights on Bruce Willis and the evolution of action heroes. It’s clear that his contributions to film will be remembered for generations.
**Dr. Riley:** Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to discuss such an iconic figure in cinema.