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LoveEffective1349 t1_j2arh6d wrote

no. there was a ton of "everyman' action before Die Hard. Burt Reynolds for one.

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theprophetquasimodo t1_j2ascvl wrote

An everyman more handsome than every man

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LoveEffective1349 t1_j2at52c wrote

like Bruce Willis wasn't already a sex symbol ? He was already a "heart-Throb" because of moonlighting.

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theprophetquasimodo t1_j2atrf9 wrote

Interesting. What set it apart for me was the beautiful head and body of hair.

Sexy-off: Willis v Reynolds. Two titans of the hunk industry, this needs to be settled.

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TylerBourbon t1_j2b8mzc wrote

Interestingly though, that wasn't a boon in his cap at the time. He was a "heart-throb" sure, but it was for a comedic tv role in a comedy drama show. Not exactly a role that screams action movie star, so there was actual concern by many at the time about whether or not people would go see him in a movie.

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FormerIceCreamEater t1_j2bwm1w wrote

He isn't naturally attractive. If Willis walked into a room and wasn't famous, people wouldn't say he was a handsome man. If burt Reynolds did, people would say that

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bravetailor t1_j2e2mb3 wrote

That's why I'd put Hackman above everyone else as the quintessential everyman. Balding, not really good looking (but not ugly either), doesn't do martial arts or anything, a guy you might miss in a crowd but when you see him close up there's an underrated aura of strength to him.

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MOOzikmktr t1_j2ax397 wrote

I would also suggest Charles Bronson and Gene Hackman. I don't really feel like people perceived Bruce as an "everyman" based on his looks and his prior work in TV. He was only written as a hard working cop from New Yawk.

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Automatic_Randomizer t1_j2b6r39 wrote

I thought of Charles Bronson, and also Clint Eastwood. The "everyman" action star was done many times before Die Hard.

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Equal-Temporary-1326 t1_j2bg2bz wrote

That was the key aspect of the film. The studio wanted Arnold or Stallone to star, but McTerinan wanted to do something different and cast an everyman to make it more realistic.

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UnderstandingOdd679 t1_j2c0aeo wrote

I was going say Bronson as well. He was the Liam Neeson “Taken” dad 40 years before Liam.

Eastwood also played a regular cop in his Dirty Harry series after his Westerns.

John Wayne, I suppose, before that.

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JC-Ice t1_j2emqb8 wrote

I wouldn't call them "everyman" types. They don't megamuscles, but they're presented as tough guys radiating an aura of deadly professionalism, unflappable under pressure.

You'd never see Clint Eastwood going, "Please God, don't let me die!" while clinging to the side of a building.

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LazyJediTelekinetic t1_j2dltu7 wrote

Thanks! I came here to rattle off Bronson, Eastwood, and Hackman.

Also, Whoopi Goldberg in Burglar and Fatal Beauty.

Also Nolte and Murphy in the 48 Hours movies, Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop.

Really the action cop genre existed long before Die Hard. Willis just did a really good job believably taking out 15 heavily armed Euro thieves.

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MOOzikmktr t1_j2dmj6m wrote

yeah - a NY beat cop who fights like a special forces commando. Totally an "every man" type and completely believable. lol

It was a great movie, but McTiernan spouting his "regular guy" claim is nothing but marketing.

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