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Nearly four decades after its release,Die Hardremains a(hotly debated) Christmas classic.
In the 1988 film,Bruce Willisplays New York Police Department (NYPD) detective John McClane, who travels to Los Angeles, hoping to reconcile with his wife, who is attending a Christmas party inside the Nakatomi Plaza skyscraper. But before he gets a chance, the building is taken over by German terrorists, led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). With the terrorists unaware that McClane is inside, it's up to him to stop their plot to access the company's secure information.
Die Hardwas a smash success, earning over $83 million at the box office, perBox Office Mojo, and spawning four sequels:Die Hard 2(1990),Die Hard with a Vengeance(1995),Live Free or Die Hard(2007) andA Good Day to Die Hard(2013). The cast of the original film went on to have epic careers in Hollywood, leading blockbuster movies likeHarry Potterand even competing on reality shows likeDancing with the Stars.
In March 2022, Bruce's family announced hisretirement from actingamid an aphasia diagnosis. (In February 2023, his wifeEmma Heming Willisshared that his condition had progressed and he had beendiagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.) Since then, fans have shown an outpouring of support for the actor and the film that helped launch him into superstardom.
"I think it's important to putDie Hardonbecause it's a Christmas movie," Emma told PEOPLE in November 2025. "Bruce loved Christmas and we love celebrating it with him. There is still joy. It just looks different."
Here's everything to know about the cast ofDie Hardand where they are now.
Bruce Willis as John McClane
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Bruce starred as the film's lead, John McClane, cementing himself as one of Hollywood's greatest action heroes. AfterDie Hard, Willis reprised the role four more times in the various sequels and starred in other hit movies likePulp Fiction,Armageddon,The Sixth SenseandRed.
In his personal life, Bruce is a dad tofive daughters— Rumer Glenn Willis, Scout LaRue Willis, Tallulah Belle Willis, Mabel Ray Willis and Evelyn Penn Willis — whom he shares with Emma and ex-wifeDemi Moore.
Bruce retired from acting in 2022 amid his aphasia diagnosis. He has since been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia andnow lives in a separate home— which is near Emma and their young children — with around-the-clock care.
"Dementia plays out differently in everyone's home and you have to do what's right for your family dynamic and what's right for your person," Emma told PEOPLE in September 2025. "It's heartbreaking to me. But this is how we were able to support our whole family, [and] it has opened up Bruce's world."
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber
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Rickman played the East German criminal Hans Gruber, who takes the Nakatomi tower hostage, hoping to earn millions in ransom.Die Hardwas Rickman's first major film role and he soon found himself starring in other hits likeDogma,Galaxy QuestandLove Actually. But the actor's most iconic role was that of Severus Snape in theHarry Potterfilm franchise.
On Jan. 14, 2016,Rickman died of pancreatic cancerat 69. He is survived by his wife, Rima Horton.
At the time of his death, he "was surrounded by family and friends," his family said in a statement toBBC.
"Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with,"Harry PottercostarDaniel Radcliffewrote in a statement at the time. "He is also one of the loyalest and most supportive people I've ever met in the film industry."
Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennaro
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Bonnie Bedelia portrayed Holly Gennaro, a Nakatomi executive and John's estranged wife. AfterDie Hard, Bedelia starred in hit television series likeThe Division(2001-2004) andParenthood(2010-2015).
Bedelia has been married to fellow actor Michael MacRae since 1995. She shares two sons, Uri and Jonah, with her ex-husband, Ken Luber.
In August 2018, Bedelia spoke to PEOPLE and remembered her time on the Die Hard set.
"When I think back toDie Hard, I think first of Alan Rickman," she said. "I mostly hung out with Alan on the set and we lunched together every day in the Fox commissary."
Alexander Godunov as Karl Vreski
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Before he starred as Gruber's accomplice Karl Vreski inDie Hard, Alexander Godunov was a ballet dancer who defected from the Soviet Union while on tour in America in August 1979. The incident caused a brief political standoff between the US and the USSR and even ended up involving PresidentJimmy Carter, perThe New York Times.
Throughout his career, Godunov starred in a handful of major films, with Harrison Ford'sWitness(1985) being his other major film credit.
On May 18, 1995, he died at 45 years old due to chronic alcoholism, per theLos Angeles Times.
Reginald VelJohnson as Sergeant Al Powell
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Reginald VelJohnsonplayed Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Sergeant Al Powell, who helps McClane rescue the hostages at Nakatomi Plaza.
AfterDie Hard, VelJohnson reprised his role for the 1995 sequel, but he's best-known as Carl Winslow from the hit sitcomFamily Matters(1989-1999). He's also a prominent voice actor and has had roles in animated series likeTron: Uprising(2012-2013) andInvincible(2021-present).
In 2024, he competed onDancing with the Stars, competing alongside pro partnerEmma Slater. He eventhemed one of his dances toDie Hard.
"This week, it's a tribute to my friend Bruce Willis," he said during the episode. "If you think I'm going out on double elimination, then yippee ki-yay, motherf-----!"
VelJohnson ultimately placed 10th on the season.
Paul Gleason as Deputy Chief Dwayne Robinson
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Paul Gleason portrayed Dwayne Robinson, the somewhat unhelpful deputy chief who initially doesn't believe that McClane is a good guy.
BeforeDie Hard, Gleason was known for his roles in hit films likeTrading Places(1983) andThe Breakfast Club(1985). He later held roles in movies likeMoney Talks(1997) andVan Wilder(2002).
On May 27, 2006, Gleason died at 67 years old of mesothelioma, perThe New York Times. He is survived by his wife, Susan Gleason, two daughters and a granddaughter.
James Shigeta as Joe Takagi
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James Shigeta played Nakatomi's CEO Joe Takagi. In the movie, Gruber needs to use Takagi's codes to access the company's computers.
Shigeta began his acting career in the late 1950s, winning theGolden Globefor Most Promising Newcomer – Male in 1960. Before appearing inDie Hard,he previously starred in movies likeFlower Drum Song(1961),Midway(1976) and series likeMedical Center(1969-1972). He had a few more roles afterDie Hard, including in Disney'sMulan(1998) as the voice of General Li.
On July 28, 2014, Shigeta died at 85 from pulmonary failure, perThe New York Times.
Hart Bochner as Harry Ellis
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InDie Hard,Hart Bochner played Nakatomi exec Harry Ellis, who attempts to play it cool with Gruber, offering McClane as a bargaining chip to save his own life.
AfterDie Hard, Ellis held roles in movies likeAnywhere But Here(1999) andCarrie(2013).
Most recently, he's appeared in series likeToo Old To Die Young(2019) andThe Dropout(2022).
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