Before Bruce Willis became the ultimate action star, blowing up bad guys in Die Hard and charming audiences in Moonlighting, he had a far less glamorous gig—keeping Saturday Night Live’s stars stocked with M&Ms.
In a hilarious and heartwarming reveal on Watch What Happens Live, Bill Murray shared the insane-but-true story of how a young Willis worked as an NBC page in the late ‘70s, tasked with the critical job of refilling snacks for the SNL cast.
“Bruce Willis was a page at NBC when I was on Saturday Night Live,” Murray told Andy Cohen. “His job was to come and go to the dressing rooms and refill the M&Ms and pretzels… kind of thing in the actors’ rooms.”
Imagine that—John McClane, once at the mercy of Gilda Radner’s candy cravings.
See also: Frontotemporal Dementia: The Disease Bruce Willis Has That’s Stopping Him From Speaking
Willis Never Forgot Murray’s Kindness
Years later, after Willis became a superstar, he reminded Murray of those early days.
“I remember when I met him after he was already a successful guy, he said, ‘You and Gilda were nice to me,’” Murray recalled. “I always thought, ‘Okay, I’m good with this guy.’ He was a good guy.”
The two eventually starred together in Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom (2012), which Murray called “a really beautiful, lovely film.”
Bill Murray gives us the inside scoop on the start of Bruce Willis’ career #WWHL pic.twitter.com/KJRFQjXsar
— Watch What Happens Live! (@BravoWWHL) April 1, 2025
But let’s be real—nothing beats the image of a pre-fame Bruce Willis sneaking extra M&Ms into Murray’s dressing room.
Willis Today: Family Love & Health Updates
Willis turned 70 on March 19, and his wife, Emma Heming Willis, celebrated the milestone with a touching Instagram tribute, sharing fan messages that flooded in for the beloved actor.
“Bruce had a great day. YOU made it very special ✨,” she wrote.
Since his 2022 retirement due to aphasia and subsequent fronto-temporal dementia diagnosis in 2023, Willis has stayed out of the spotlight. But his family—including Emma and their two daughters, plus his three kids with ex-wife Demi Moore—continue to share updates and keep fans connected to his journey.
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Emma has been vocal about the challenges of caregiving, using her platform to raise awareness while keeping Bruce’s spirit alive in their home.
A Legend’s Legacy—From M&Ms to Mayhem
Bruce Willis’ career is the stuff of Hollywood dreams—starting as a snack fetcher, becoming an ‘80s heartthrob, then reigning as an action icon. And through it all, he remained, as Murray put it, “a good f—ing guy.”
See also: Chappell Roan on Fame, Fear, and Falling in Love Without Losing Herself
So next time you watch Die Hard, remember: Yippee-ki-yay started with pretzel duty.
