Where Die Hard cast are now – famous nephews, £200m fortune and tragic asbestos death

Bruce Willis became a Hollywood icon when he landed the role of John McClane in Die Hard.

The action thriller, which has audiences debating every year whether or not it is a Christmas film, is loved by generations of fans and starred a stellar cast including Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia and Paul Gleason – to name a few.

It led to a series of sequels and propelled its cast to new heights of fame in the years since.

READ MORE: Bruce Willis’ wife shares sweet throwback snaps of Die Hard star as he battles dementia

On Bruce Willis’ 68th birthday (March 19), Daily Star has taken a look at where the cast of Die Hard are now.

Bruce Willis (John McClane)

One of Bruce Willis’ most famous roles is as John McClane in Die Hard and its subsequent sequels.

After playing the lead in comedy-drama series Moonlighting, he became known as an action star and leading actor in blockbuster films such as Armageddon, Pulp Fiction, The Sixth Sense, Sin City, Red, Looper, Glass and The Expendables.

He became one of Hollywood’s biggest stars with an estimated fortune of $250million (£208m) thanks to his huge roles, with The Sixth Sense bagging him a whopping $14m (£11.6m).

However, he landed pop success as a recording artist during the eighties too, releasing album The Return of Bruno and chart topper Respect Yourself with The Pointer Sisters.

Bruce is not the only famous star in his family either, as he was previously married to Hollywood starlet Demi Moore – with who he has three daughters.

They divorced in 2000 but have remained close friends, with Bruce attending the wedding of Demi and her now ex-husband Ashton Kutcher.

Bruce later became engaged to actress Brooke Burns in 2004, before the pair called off their relationship just under one year later.

He married model Emma Heming in 2009 and the couple have since welcomed two daughters.

However in 2022, his family released a statement on Instagram announcing that Bruce was retiring from acting after being diagnosed with Aphasia – a condition that causes difficulties with speech.

“With much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,” the statement read.

“This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support.”

Earlier this year, his family made a further announcement saying that Bruce had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and that they hope to raise awareness of the condition.

Alan Rickman (Hans Gruber)

Acting royalty Alan Rickman played some of the world’s most iconic film roles, including villain Hans Gruber in Die Hard.

After beginning his career in repertory theatre, he landed his first feature film role in Die Hard and became an instant icon – going on to play leading roles in Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, Truly Madly Deeply, Close My Eyes, The Winter Guest, Galaxy Quest and of course, as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series.

His final two films were Eye in the Sky and Alice Through The Looking Glass.

Away from the limelight, Alan was in a relationship with Rima Horton from the early seventies and they married in a private ceremony in 2012.

The couple had no children, but Alan became godfather to future The Musketeers and Strike star Tom Burke.

Alan also became close friends with fellow acting icon Emma Thompson, with the pair starring alongside one another on multiple occasions – including as a couple in Love Actually.

They had previously worked together on 1995’s Sense and Sensibility and film Judas Kiss, with the actors forming a close friendship off-screen.

Alan Rickman also directed Emma Thompson and her mother Phyllida Law in the 1997 film The Winter Guest, as well as starring opposite her in the Harry Potter film series as Severus Snape.

However on January 14 2016, Alan Rickman died from cancer at the age of 69 – with Emma paying tribute to her friend in The New York Times saying: “Alan was my friend and so this is hard to write because I have just kissed him goodbye.

“What I remember most in this moment of painful leave-taking is his humour, intelligence, wisdom, and kindness. His capacity to fell you with a look or lift you with a word.”

She added: “He was the ultimate ally. In life, art and politics. I trusted him absolutely.

“He was, above all things, a rare and unique human being and we shall not see his like again.”

Bonnie Bedelia (Holly McClane)

Bonnie Bedelia starred as John McClane’s wife Holly in Die Hard.

The actress studied at the School of American Ballet as a teenager, before moving into acting and appearing in Gypsy Moths, The Prince of Pennsylvania, Presumed Innoncent, Lovers and Other Strangers and Don’t They – to name a few.

She also played David Soul’s love interest Susan Norton in the Stephen King film Salem’s Lot.

After starring in Die Hard and its sequel, the award winning actress has continued to star in TV series and films such as CSI, What/If, Parent Hood and most recently, 2021’s Panic.

With such a stellar career, it is no surprise that Bonnie has an estimated net worth of $4m (£3.3m) according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Bonnie is not the only famous star in her family though, as she is aunt to Home Alone icon Macauley Culkin, Succession actor Kieran Culkin and Scream actor Kit Culkin.

She was previously married to screenwriter Ken Luber from 1969 to 1980, with who she welcomed two sons called Uri and Jonah.

Bonnie married Battlefield Earth and Masterminds actor Michael MacRae in 1995.

Paul Gleason (Dwayne T. Robinson)

Paul Gleason played Deputy Police Chief Dwayne T. Robinson in Die Hard – but he was already a huge film star before the action thriller.

Along with roles in All My Children, The A-Team, Ewoks: The Battle For Endor, Trading Places and Johnny Be Good, he was famous for playing tough high school principle Richard Vernon in teen classic The Breakfast Club.

From there he played Larry Newman in Dawson’s Creek and appeared in Friends, Malcolm In The Middle and Drake & Josh.

However his life could have turned out completely differently, as Paul played minor league baseball for a number of clubs before becoming an actor.

In his personal life, Paul was married twice – first to actress Candy Moore between 1971 to 1978, with who he had a daughter called Shannon.

He later married Susan Kehl in 1995 and together they welcomed a daughter called Kaitlin.

However, Paul died on May 27, 2006 at the age of 67 years old from lung cancer.

According to The New York Times, his wife Susan said the cause of his death was mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer linked to asbestos.

Paying tribute to the actor, fellow performer and friend Jimmy Hawkins told LA Times: “He just always had great stories to tell,” and remembered Paul fondly for his sense of humour.

Paul’s wife Susan also paid tribute in a statement, saying: “Whenever you were with Paul, there was never a dull moment.”

Reginald VelJohnson (Sgt. Al Powell)

Reginald VelJohnson starred as LAPD Sergeant Al Powell in Die Hard.

After landing his first Hollywood roles in Ghostbusters, Crocodile Dundee and Turner and Hooch, he appeared in both Die Hard and its hit sequel.

From there he has not left our screens, appearing in some of the world’s biggest TV shows and films including Family Matters, Like Mike, Ghost Whisperer, Family Guy, The Bold and The Beautiful, General Hospital, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Invincible and most recently, Ghosts Of Christmas Always.

Away from the limelight, Reginald has never married and does not have any children.

However, he reflected fondly on playing a father figure on screen during an interview with Forbes about his Family Matters character Carl Winslow.

He said: “It has taken off in a direction I didn’t expect and whatnot, being a father.

“Since I don’t have any kids of my own, playing a father was a unique and different thing. I got used to being a father.”

De’voreaux White (Argyle)

De’Voreaux White starred as limousine driver Argyle in Die Hard – a role he reprised in 2020 short film Die Hard Is Back.

He already had a long and successful acting career before the blockbuster, appearing in TV series and films such as Quincy M.E, Places In The Heart, Stingray and T.J Hooker.

Since then he has continued to act, appearing in Trespass and Workaholics, and is listed on the Internet Movie Database as starring in a TV mini series called Easter, which is currently in pre-production.

However he admitted to Newsweek that people still recognise him most for playing Argyle – and revealed the one thing he was gutted that he could not take away from the film set.

“People still ask if I will be their limo driver or if I have driven a limo lately. I have to tell them that’s only in the movies,” said De’voreaux.

“I did find myself a passenger in limos in the ’90s after the movie. My drivers knew that I played a limo driver, so it was fun to look at it from a different perspective.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get to take the big bear home, he went back to the prop team. I loved that teddy bear but I didn’t even think to ask for it.”

Away from the limelight, the actor tends to keep his personal life private.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk