20 Times Actors Bet Against Hollywood (And WON)

Bruce Willis is so synonymous with the action genre that it's difficult to appreciate what an unlikely casting his first action role actually was. 

Before this, Willis has only been in one other film and he was best-known as a comedy actor on TV. In an era where most action heroes were big, muscular figures like Schwarzenegger and Stallone and in a time where it was famously difficult for TV actors to break into Hollywood, casting Willis as John McClane seemed like a recipe for disaster. 

In fact, it was perfect. One of the many things that makes Die Hard an action masterpiece is the fact that it's got an everyman hero thrust into extraordinary circumstances, someone who seems like they could actually fail to defeat the villains. He's a relatable character who viewers truly feel empathy with, and not only did this establish Bruce Willis as one of the best action stars who ever lived, but it also changed the genre for the better. 

Action films after this often relied on relatable action heroes similar to John McClane, which helped to give Die Hard's many imitators a stronger sense of jeopardy. Honestly, it's a relief that so many established stars turned down the film, for the studio taking a chance on Willis was the best thing they could've done. 

Tragically, Willis' health is currently in decline, but he's left behind an amazing body of work that'll never be forgotten.