Die Hard cast 35 years after film's release from Harry Potter fame to tragedy
It's been over 30 years since the action film Die Hard (1988) first graced our screens, and it's still a favourite among fans.
The award-winning film, directed by John McTiernan, is said to be based on Roderick Thorp's 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever. Die Hard tells the story of a police detective who attempts to save his estranged wife and her colleagues from some criminals targeting a skyscraper over a vault inside.
It spawned four sequels, which were released between 1990 and 2013. There has also been a comic book series of the same name and fans have been able to play several video games inspired by the Academy Award nominated film.
READ MORE: How to watch Bruce Willis action movie Die Hard this Christmas
The film returned to cinemas for its 30th anniversary in 2018 and it's now being shown again this holiday season. It's being screened in Vue branches already and is due to be shown by Cineworld and Odeon later this month, for example.
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Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis starred as John McClane in Die Hard (1988) (getty)Bruce Willis, now 68, played the lead role of John McClane. He returned to play the character in four sequels, including Live Free or Die Hard (2007). He most recently reprise the role in the fifth instalment A Good Day to Die Hard (2013).
Since the release of the original film, Bruce has starred in a host other films such as Death Becomes Her (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994) and Unbreakable (2000). He's also been part of the cast in Sin City (2005) and The Expendables 2 (2012).
Last year, it was announced that he had been diagnosed with aphasia and would be retiring from acting. His family later shared that Bruce has since been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, which is known as FTD.
The Golden Globe winner's family includes his second wife Emma Heming Willis, 45, whom he's been married to since 2009, and their two children. He has three older children, including Rumer Willis, 35, with his ex-wife Demi Moore, 61.
Bonnie Bedelia
Bonnie Bedelia was cast as Holly Gennaro-McClane (getty)Bonnie Bedelia, now 75, played John's wife Holly Gennaro-McClane in the film. She reprised the role in Die Hard 2 (1990) and although the character hasn't returned in any of the subsequent films, she has been referenced in them.
Since then, Bonnie has appeared in films like Presumed Innocent (1990) and The Noel Diary (2022). She played Captain Kate McCafferty in Lifetime's The Division from 2001 to 2004. She's also been in shows like Netflix's Designated Survivor and What/If, and Amazon Prime Video's Panic.
She's been married to actor Michael MacRae, now 74, since 1995 and has two children from a previous relationship. She's the aunt of actors Macaulay Culkin, 43, Kieran Culkin, 41, and Rory Culkin, 34, through her brother Kit Culkin, 79.
Alan Rickman
Whilst the late Alan Rickman played Hans Gruber (rex)The late Alan Rickman played the antagonist Hans Gruber in the film and didn't return for any of the sequels. The character was however referenced in the third instalment in the film series, Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995).
He later won a BAFTA for his role as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) and also starred in Love Actually (2003). He played professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series from 2001 to 2011.
The actor was in a long-term relationship with former politician Rima Horton, now 76, whom he married in 2012. Alan passed away, aged 69, in 2016 just months after he had reportedly been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
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Reginald VelJohnson
Reginald VelJohnson played Al Powell in the film (getty)Reginald VelJohnson, now 71, played police sergeant Al Powell. He reprised his role from the award-winning film in its first sequel, with him having returned for the project alongside some of his former colleagues, including Bruce and Bonnie.
He's known for playing Carl Winslow in the ABC sitcom Family Matters from 1989 to 1998, and has done shows like Will and Grace, Hart of Dixie and Ray Donovan. He's also credited as having worked on films like Avengers: Endgame (2019).
More recently, he played Dave Sutton in the Disney+ series Turner and Hooch, which premiered in 2021. Reginald originally played the character in the film of the same name, released in 1989, prior to reprising it in the short-lived continuation.
Paul Gleason
The late Paul Gleason was cast as Dwayne Robinson (getty)The late Paul Gleason played deputy police chief Dwayne Robinson in the film. Unlike his co-star Reginald, who starred as his on-screen colleague, he didn't reprise the role in any subsequent instalments in the film series following its release.
He later appeared in films such as National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002) and his acting credits include roles in shows like Dawson's Creek, Drake and Josh and Malcolm in the Middle. And he played investment company executive Jack in an episode of NBC sitcom Friends which aired in 2000.
The father-of-two, is said to have married his second wife Susan Kehl back in 1995. He passed away, aged 67, in 2006, reportedly after having been diagnosed with a form of lung cancer that's known as pleural mesothelioma.
Alexander Godunov
The late Alexander Godunov played Karl in the film (rex)The late Alexander Godunov played Hans' second-in-command Karl in the film. He didn't return in any sequels, with his subsequent acting credits instead including projects like The Runestone (1990) and Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992).
Alexander - who previously worked alongside Harrison Ford in Witness (1985) and with Tom Hanks on The Money Pit (1986) - passed away, aged 45, in 1995. It has been reported that the late actor's death was related to alcoholism.
Clarence Gilyard
Whilst the late Clarence Gilyard played Theo (REX)The late Clarence Gilyard was cast as Hans' computer specialist Theo but didn't return after the first film. Shortly after its release, he appeared as Conrad McMasters in the ABC show Matlock, with him a cast member from 1989 to 1993.
He subsequently played James Trivette in the CBS show Walker, Texas Ranger from 1993 and 2001. He also played the character in the films Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion (1994) and Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005).
Clarence was later an associate professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). The father-of-six is said to have married his second wife, Elena Castillo, in 2001. He passed away, aged 66, in 2022, reportedly after a "long illness".
William Atherton
William Atherton played Richard Thornburg (20th century fox)William Atherton, now 76, played TV reporter Richard Thornburg. The actor reprised the role in the first sequel, reuniting with the likes of Bruce in it, though he hasn't since made any subsequent appearances in the film series.
He's been in films such as The Last Samurai (2003) and more recently Clinical (2017). He's now rumored to be reprising his role as Walter Peck from Ghostbusters (1984) in the upcoming sequel Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024).
The actor - whose acting credits include shows such as Law & Order, Desperate Housewives and Lost - is said to have been married to Bobbi Goldin for more than four decades. They are said to have tied the knot back in 1980.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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