Bruce Willis, the legendary action star, offered Samuel L. Jackson a piece of career advice back in 1994 that ultimately helped Jackson secure a role worth billions. The two were working on the set of Die Hard With a Vengeance when Willis advised Jackson to find a character that audiences would adore—just like Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator or Sylvester Stallone's Rocky and Rambo.

Willis told him, "Hopefully you’ll be able to find a character that, when you make bad movies and they don’t make any money, you can always go back to this character everybody loves." He pointed to his own enduring role as John McClane, which had already cemented his place in Hollywood.

It took Jackson 14 years to fully grasp Willis' wisdom. Reflecting on it, Jackson shared, "It didn’t occur to me until I got that Nick Fury role — and I had a nine-picture deal to be Nick Fury — that, ‘Oh, I’m doing what Bruce said. I’ve got this character now.’" Nick Fury, of course, became a central figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in 12 films starting with Iron Man in 2008. These films have collectively grossed a staggering $12.8 billion globally.

Meanwhile, Bruce Willis recently celebrated his milestone 70th birthday on March 19. His family and loved ones, including ex-wife Demi Moore and their three daughters, joined forces with his current wife, Emma Heming Willis, to honor the iconic actor. Moore posted a touching tribute on Instagram, sharing unseen photos and writing, "Happy birthday, BW! We love you."

Bruce's eldest daughter, Rumer, shared a nostalgic video of her parents dancing, calling her father "the King" and expressing her love. Tallulah, the youngest of the Willis-Moore trio, praised her dad as "a light that can never be dimmed," humorously describing him as a "Corn Cake King" within the family's close circle. Scout, the middle daughter, dubbed him "the greatest of all time" and credited him as the inspiration behind her creativity and mischief.

Emma Heming Willis, the mother of Bruce's two youngest daughters, Mabel and Evelyn, also chimed in, urging fans to flood Bruce with love. She shared a photo of him smiling on a four-wheeler and wrote, "There’s no greater fan than a Bruce fan. So flood him with all the love today – he will feel it, I swear he will."

As Bruce battles dementia, his family remains a strong, supportive unit. Scout described the family's bond as "ironclad" and filled with love, a sentiment echoed by everyone who celebrated the actor's big day.

Bruce Willis may be a "Jersey boy who hit the jackpot of life," as Tallulah so poignantly put it, but he's also a father, a legend, and an enduring inspiration in Hollywood. And as Samuel L. Jackson's billion-dollar career move proves, Willis' impact extends far beyond his own roles.

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Bruce Willis' Advice Helped Samuel L. Jackson Land a Billion-Dollar Role