10 Actors Who Became Unlikely Action Movie Stars
6. Bruce Willis - Die Hard
It's harder to think of Bruce Willis as anything but an action star in the modern cinematic landscape. However, that was not the case before the legendary Die Hard was released.
People laughed at the idea of him appearing in an action movie, as he was known for the comedy sitcom Moonstruck and being a romantic comedy star. Still, he proved his critics wrong and forged a whole career out of the genre.
Before Willis came along, action movies stars were defined by overt machismo and bulging muscles. The likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone sought to that. Still, Willis's turn as John McClane proved not only that the average Joe could be a hero but that by making your action protagonist relatable, you could reach new heights of success.
This rang true not only for the movie but also for Willis, as he went on to become a legend, thanks to the subsequent Die Hard sequels and a litany of other delves into the genre. He well and truly became the new face of action, which is why it's so surprising that he was considered a terrible choice to be an action hero.