Story perspectives
Die Hard: How Bruce Willis Won Iconic Role
6/1/2025
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Story summary
- Bruce Willis wasn't the original pick for the iconic role of John McClane in "Die Hard." At 70, Frank Sinatra, who had first dibs, turned it down, along with action legends Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Released in 1988, the film, inspired by Roderick Thorp's novel, ultimately became a beloved classic.
