"I think that he's fantastic. He was, always for years and years, is a huge, huge star," said Arnold Schwarzenegger about his friend Bruce Willis.
Arnold Schwarzenegger recently spoke out about his colleague Bruce Willis' retirement from the film industry, and his words reflect the deep respect and admiration shared between these two action movie legends. Willis' departure from the silver screen was announced by his family in 2022 after he was diagnosed with aphasia, which has now been updated to frontotemporal dementia per CNN Entertainment. This news left fans and colleagues reflecting on Willis' remarkable contributions to cinema, and Schwarzenegger's response was both heartwarming and profound.
In a recent interview with CinemaBlend, Schwarzenegger discussed his debut in the action-comedy series FUBAR and took a moment to share his thoughts on Willis. "I think that he's fantastic. He was, always for years and years, is a huge, huge star. And I think that he will always be remembered as a great, great star. And a kind man. I understand that under his circumstances, health-wise, that he had to retire. But in general, you know, we never really retire. Action heroes, they reload," the Terminator star said.
In 2022, actor Demi Moore, ex-wife of the Twelve Monkeys actor shared a post revealing Willis' condition. "To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him," she wrote in an Instagram post opening up about his retirement.
Bruce Willis has undoubtedly made an indelible mark on the action genre with his unforgettable performances in iconic films like Die Hard and Pulp Fiction. While he may have stepped away from the spotlight to enjoy his new role as a grandfather, his work continues to remain amongst the most sorted in action and sci-fi genres. Schwarzenegger himself is a living example of his philosophy on action heroes never truly retiring. Despite venturing into politics and environmental activism, the Austrian-born actor is making a triumphant return to the big screen after a four-year hiatus with the film Breakout. At 75 years old, Schwarzenegger continues to defy expectations and shows no signs of slowing down. Alongside his film project, his Netflix series FUBAR is currently available for streaming, and fans can look forward to his upcoming three-part docuseries titled Arnold, set to premiere in June.
Schwarzenegger's words resonate with the understanding that true action heroes embark on new and exciting journeys rather than fading away. The legacy of Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger will undoubtedly endure, inspiring aspiring actors and reminding us all of the enduring impact of their contributions to the world of cinema.
References:
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/30/entertainment/arnold-schwarzenegger-bruce-willis/index.html
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbu-mD7LMPg/
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Photo by Jason Meritt; (R) Frazer Harrison
