“He was fantastic” or “He was and always will be a big star” – Arnold Schwarzenegger recently repeatedly praised his colleague Bruce Willis in interviews. He even got carried away with the rather bizarre statement, given Willis’ health, that “action stars never retire, they recharge” (original sound: ). Yet from all statements it should be noted that Schwarzenegger appreciates his colleague. In the past, that wasn’t necessarily the case…
In his book ‘The Last Action Heroes: The Triumphs, Flops, and Feuds of Hollywood’s Kings of Carnage’, author Nick de Semlyen looks back on the great era of Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Willis and Co. It is also about ‘Die Hard’ – and how little respect the ‘real’ screen heroes like Schwarzenegger and Stallone had for Willis, who was previously mainly known as a TV actor (via ).
As is known, almost no one believed that “Die Hard” starring Bruce Willis would really be a success – and that is why he was not the first choice for a long time. But many established action stars previously turned down the role. After the film the picture changed. The audience was excited to see an “everyman” like Willis, who doesn’t have the big muscles, take on terrorists like a lone wolf. But not everyone was enthusiastic…
Arnie laughed at “Die Hard”
Author de Semlyen reports that the film was shown to Arnold Schwarzenegger during a private screening on the premises of the producing studio Fox. The “Terminator” star laughed out loud throughout the movie – although it was not a positive, enthusiastic laugh, as the term used (with a negative connotation) ‘laughter’ makes clear.
Shortly after the film’s release, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis met at a restaurant. When Willis entered the restaurant, Schwarzenegger, who was already there, allegedly shouted across the store so loudly for everyone to hear: “Do you know why you’ll never be an action star?” Willis replied, “No, Arnold, why?” Arnold then exposed his biceps, pointed to it and replied “toothpick arms.”
So even after the success of “Die Hard,” Schwarzenegger still clung to the misconception, widespread in the 1980s, that action stars must have big muscles. By now he should have admitted this mistake himself.