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The TRAGIC reason why Bruce Willis was nick-named 'Buck Buck' as a young boy

'There was a lot of bullying in my life, and I had to fight my way out,' Bruce Willis has recalled
PUBLISHED MAR 1, 2023
Bruce Willis attends the Comedy Central Roast of Bruce Willis at Hollywood Palladium on July 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California (Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Bruce Willis attends the Comedy Central Roast of Bruce Willis at Hollywood Palladium on July 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California (Rich Fury/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Bruce Willis is one of the few actors who have established their own benchmark when it comes to Hollywood and acting. He has unquestionably contributed to the popularity of the 'Die Hard' series among fans, making it one of the most watched action movies of all time.

The actor, born on March 19, 1955, has played versatile roles and has made us fall in love with each of them. The incredibly gifted actor has always given outstanding performances, whether it is in 'Moonlighting' on television or the blockbuster film 'The Expendables'. 

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(L-R) Actress Emma Hemming, actor Bruce Willis, his daughter Tallulah Belle Willis, and her mother actress Demi Moore attend the after party for the screening of
Actress Emma Hemming, actor Bruce Willis, his daughter Tallulah Belle Willis, and her mother actress Demi Moore attend the after party for the screening of "Flawless" hosted by The Cinema Society at the SoHo Grand Hotel March 24, 2008 in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

A bullied childhood 

As news about his retirement from cinema surfaced in 2020, there were a few things fans probably didn't know about Bruce Willis. Apart from the fact that his untreatable dementia has affected his ability to communicate, it is a lesser known fact that Willis also struggled as a child because of his stutter. “There was a lot of bullying in my life, and I had to fight my way out,” he recalled to The Hollywood Reporter. “Kids get mean.” The actor was frequently referred to by his friends as "Buck Buck" over his stammer, which he miraculously dropped while playing on stage. The actor's inclination towards the stage was partly brought on by this. Wills frequently claims that he found it simpler to express himself on stage.

Years of struggle

When he was recognized by the American Institute for Stuttering in 2016, he became emotional and stated, "That means far more to me than you can realize."

March 1995.Bruce Willis Stars In The New Die Hardd Movie. (Photo By Getty Images)
March 1995.Bruce Willis Stars In The New Die Hardd Movie. (Getty Images)

While preparing his speech, Willis made an effort to remember when he first started stuttering. He revealed that when he was around six, "[I had] no plan, no help, just flailing wildly for a really long time". "Miracles" happened to Willis all through his life. He recalls attempting to act at his school and the YMCA in his community and discovered that by portraying a character onstage, he could better control his speech impediment. Later, he worked with speech therapists while attending Montclair State University in New Jersey.

Joe Biden by his side 

On a surprising note, President Joe Biden revealed himself as a stutterer as he was honored at the Freeing Voices Changing Lives gala in New York in 2020. During his 25-minute speech, Biden briefly deviated from the script to chastise a few audience members who giggled when he revealed his childhood speech impediment.

Actor Bruce Willis and Vice President of the United States Joe Biden speak during the American Institute for Stuttering Freeing Voices Changing Lives 10th Annual Benefit Gala on June 6, 2016 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 06: Actor Bruce Willis and Vice President of the United States Joe Biden speak during the American Institute for Stuttering Freeing Voices Changing Lives 10th Annual Benefit Gala on June 6, 2016 in New York City. (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for American Institute for Stuttering)

“I resent the laughter,” he declared angrily. “Think about it, stuttering is the only thing people think they can laugh at. If I was up here talking about having a cleft palate and had it operated on, or had a withered arm or was partially paralyzed, no one would make fun of me at all.” 

Biden remembered attempting to manage his stutter. Like Willis, he acknowledged that when he was younger, he learnt to fight and defend himself, and now, owing to other public personalities and movies like 'The King's Speech', he was not ashamed of what he endured.

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