1. Bruce Willis John McClane In The Die Hard Films
In the mid-1980s, Bruce Willis was primarily known as the wise-cracking private investigator David Addison on the TV series Moonlighting. But it was his turn as the rogue cop taking on a group of terrorists at the top of an L.A. skyscraper in Die Hard that changed him into one of the most bankable stars of his generation. Die Hard was based on the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp, Fox was contractually obligated to offer the role to Frank Sinatra, but he refused. Arnold Scharzenegger was also considered for the role, along with a number of other action stars, until Willis was chosen. Die Hard went on to become a smash hit, and its name has become synonymous with a role featuring a solo character facing great odds. Since then, the series has spawned four sequels over 25 years, with talk of a sixth and final film in the works. Despite the critical drubbing that the fifth film, A Good Day To Die Hard, took from the press, its probably not a good idea to bet against McClanes return.
