Bruce Willis Returns to Iconic Rooftop for Die Hard’s 34th Anniversary
Die Hard fans got a dose of nostalgia this week when Bruce Willis returned to the top of Nakatomi Plaza 34 years after the movie’s 1988 release. And if you remember, famous detective John McClane vowed to never stand atop a tall building again.
Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis shared the re-created shot to her Instagram on Saturday. In the post—Willis’ first social media appearance since his aphasia diagnosis in March—the actor, dressed in a short-sleeved button down, chinos, and ball cap, leans on the rooftop railing of Nakatomi Plaza (real life Fox Plaza in Century City, Los Angeles). The short video then cuts between movie clips of Die Hard with The Tabernacle Choir’s rendition of Ode to Joy playing throughout.
“Nakatomi Plaza 34 years later,” Willis captions her post.
Fans of the film are quick to remember the fast-paced, action-packed plot where Detective John McClane (Willis) joins his wife’s company’s holiday party only to have terrorists ruin the festivites. Their only hope—McClane to save the day.
The success of Die Hard sparked four sequels with Willis as the front man and joined the list of Willis-led classics including Armageddon, The Sixth Sense, and Tears of the Sun.
But the 67-year old actor was diagnosed with aphasia earlier this year. The disorder, which typically occurs after a brain injury, impacts a person’s ability to communicate through speech and writing. The diagnosis forced him to retire from movie-making.
In March 2022, his wife posted to Instagram announcing his diagnosis.
“This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support”, she wrote. “We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him.”
