Chapter 45: A Gift from Above

Chapter 45: A Gift from Above

On set, Martin and Bruce Willis shared an exceptionally good rapport.

Part of their closeness stemmed from their roles, which called for a natural connection. Another part came from Martin's calm maturity, entirely free of the brashness that might be expected from a young actor, and Bruce's gentle nature. One was worldly-wise, the other easygoing—making them an effortless match.

Many people might be surprised to learn that Bruce, the rugged action hero of the big screen, was in private a remarkably mild-mannered man, perhaps even overly so. This gentleness likely had its roots in his childhood.

Bruce Willis was born in West Germany in 1955, to a German mother and an American father serving as a soldier stationed in Germany.

At the time, the aftermath of World War II still lingered, and the Cold War had just begun.

Amidst this turbulence, Bruce's father left the military, and the family moved to New Jersey in the United States.

It's hard to imagine now, but Bruce—who would one day sweep the screen as a tough-guy icon—spent his childhood being bullied by classmates.

Starting at age six, Bruce struggled with a severe stutter.

This condition left him feeling self-conscious, compounded by his parents' apparent disappointment, which weighed heavily on his young mind.

At home, he found little comfort, and at school, he endured even more humiliation. His classmates gave him a mocking nickname, "Buck-Buck," mimicking his stuttering.

Years later, in a public appearance, he shared a poignant line: "Kids can be cruel."

Those words carried the weight of his past suffering.

From this simple sentence, one can imagine the misery of Bruce's childhood—how badly he was bullied.

Such experiences left him with a certain timidity that contrasted sharply with the bold persona he would later project as an action star.

(PS: Before he became famous, Bruce Willis was known by the nickname "Gentle Giant.")

But Bruce wasn't one to be defeated by his circumstances. He began to make a determined effort to change the way he spoke, trying everything he could to overcome his stutter.

Then, by chance, he discovered that when performing on stage in front of an audience, his stutter would subside.

So he joined the drama club, and before long, he developed a deep passion for acting.

This unwavering dedication allowed his charisma to finally start to shine through. The once-bullied "Buck-Buck" transformed, and by high school, he was elected student body president.

Ultimately, after graduating, Bruce—student body president, head of the drama club—found himself smoothly transitioning into the role of... security guard.

Such is life; it's not always a straightforward story of triumph.

Bruce's success didn't arrive right away.

After working as a security guard for a year, he grew tired of the job's limited prospects.

So he shifted gears and became a... salesman.

But after a while, he realized his heart was still set on acting, so he resolved to pursue it as a career.

He enrolled in Montclair State University in New Jersey to study drama and immerse himself in the craft.

During this time, he appeared in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

In 1977, he graduated and moved to Manhattan, New York, finally making the leap from an amateur performer to a professional... bar runner, serving drinks.

With a bit more persistence, he managed to "upgrade" to bartender.

One could say that fate enjoys toying with people.

Thankfully, Bruce Willis never gave up. Balancing his bartending job, he auditioned for various roles, securing some small parts here and there.

Of course, in that world, he likely endured a lot—sleeping with others or being pursued himself—nothing out of the ordinary.

In 1985, his big break finally arrived.

After impressing a casting director, Bruce Willis emerged victorious from a pool of 3,000 candidates, landing the lead in the TV series Moonlighting. This role earned him both an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

Riding the wave of fame brought by the show, Bruce Willis finally knocked on Hollywood's door.

In 1987, he starred in his first romantic comedy, Blind Date.

The box office? Mediocre.

Then came a Western, Sunset.

The box office? Still lukewarm.

Neither of these films significantly advanced Bruce's career.

Then the action film Die Hard came his way.

Bruce Willis had finally found his calling—action star, tough guy.

From that moment on, his ascent was unstoppable, establishing him as an A-list icon.

In Die Hard, Bruce's infamous catchphrase, "Yippee-Ki-Yay, motherf***er," became one of the most memorable lines in film history.

In 2007, Premiere magazine held a poll where it was voted one of the "100 Greatest Movie Quotes of All Time."

Martin held a deep respect for Bruce's journey.

To him, anyone who refused to submit to fate was worthy of admiration.

But Bruce's later years would be bittersweet in their own way.

Perhaps there's truth to the saying: every gift from fate comes with a hidden price.

In March 2022, Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia, and the once indomitable action hero tearfully announced his retirement from the industry...

"Martin, Martin, are you ready?" M. Night Shyamalan called out loudly.

Martin flashed an "OK" gesture.

"All right, action!"

Two cameras rolled simultaneously: one capturing Martin inside the house, and the other waiting to film his entrance as he opened the door.

Inside, M. Night Shyamalan watched the monitor intently.

Although it was a short scene, it was critical; Martin needed to convey Cole's fear and vulnerability—a challenging task.

With his naturally sunny disposition, Shyamalan wasn't sure if Martin could portray Cole's gloomy and frightened demeanor convincingly.

But he was soon proved wrong.

The moment he shouted "action," Martin's aura transformed completely, with all his sunshine and confidence vanishing. In their place was a timid little boy, a far cry from his usual self.

"My God!"

Shyamalan was struck to his core; it was as if Martin had become a different person entirely.

He jogged to the door, opened it, and peered outside with wide eyes. Fear, hesitation, and a wary caution radiated from him, filling the screen.

"This... this is a gift from above," Shyamalan murmured, eyes wide.

Beside him, Bruce Willis wore a look of equal astonishment.