Might sound stupid - but has he ever played the underdog?

Don't know the guy in real life at all, but all vids & interviews show a similar sort of man, albeit more quiet and thoughtful. I don't know him, either, but I do know a bit about the business, and every time an actor does an interview, he's working. Every answer has to bolster his carefully crafted image, or the fans feel let down.

The first non-Alpha Male role I saw him in was "Shatterday" on the "New Twilight Zone." He played a Type-A personality that was confronted with his flaws -- by his other self, a kinder, more compassionate man who actually had morals and values.

The prisoner sent back in time to save the world in "12 Monkeys" is slowly being driven mad by a system that uses him as a tool and keeps him disoriented so he hardly knows what reality is. He finally figures it out, but only with the help of a woman -- definitely NOT Alpha Male material.

You're right -- both roles most definitely were among his best.

One thing I've noticed is that -- even in the Alpha Male roles -- he's shows great tenderness to children.

You will probably disagree. That's the nature of discussions -- they have two sides.

He was an underdog in Pulp Fiction. He was a beaten down loser who was just trying to make a big score and get out of town.

The whole point of Die Hard is that he's an underdog. He's an off duty divorcee cop badly outnumbered and orignally unarmed in the middle of a hostage situation in an office building.

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The sun is shining... but the ice is slippery.

Agree 100% about McClain being the underdog in Die Hard...that was the whole point of the film.
Which is why IMHO they never did a really good Die Hard sequel. They all made McClain into James Bond,totally losing the underdog angle,without which he is just antoher action hero.

What the heck are you talking about, Bruce Willis did all kinds of characters, funny, romantic, dramatic, tragic, whatever you want. He almost never was a boring John Wayne.

Die Hard has already been mentioned, as has Pulp Fiction.

Sixth Sense is another example. Very tragic.

In The Fifth Element he's starting as an unemployed agent who works as a taxi driver. Very funny movie.

In Sin City he defends the girl, then gets put in prison for ages, and finally dies to protect the girl. It just doesnt get more romantic.

In Twelve Monkeys he's a criminal who gets sent back in time to prevent the apocalypse. Another tragic part.

The only movie I can think of in which Willis really is a Wayne - and the movie is really bad, too - was quite recently with Looper.

In the Jackal - not much of a movie really - he was a coldblooded hitman, so that would also count.

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A gentleman will not insult me, and no man not a gentleman can insult me.

watch him in death becomes her , the complete underdog

Agree 100% about McClain being the underdog in Die Hard...that was the whole point of the film. Which is why IMHO they never did a really good Die Hard sequel. They all made McClain into James Bond,totally losing the underdog angle,without which he is just antoher action hero. I'm in full agreement about this.

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A gentleman will not insult me, and no man not a gentleman can insult me.