Marlene Willis is best known as the mother of Hollywood star Bruce Willis. She was born in Germany and grew up with strong cultural traditions. Before marriage, she worked in a bank but later became a full-time homemaker.
Marlene met David Andrew Willis while he was stationed in Germany as an American soldier. They married and had children. In 1957, when David’s military career was over, they relocated to Carneys Point, New Jersey, where they raised their children.
Quick Facts About Marlene Willis
| Full Name | Marlene K. Willis |
| Birthdate | N/A |
| Age | N/A |
| Birthplace | Germany |
| Nationality | German-American |
| Occupation | Former bank worker, Homemaker |
| Education | N/A |
| Husband | David Andrew Willis (died) |
| Parents | Not Known |
| Siblings | Wilfried Gliem (cousin) |
| Children | Bruce Willis (Son), Florence Willis (Daughter), David Willis (Son), Robert Willis (Son-died) |
| Grandchildren | Rumer Willis, Tallulah Willis, Scout Willis, Mabel Ray Willis, Evelyn Willis |
| Residence | Carneys Point, New Jersey (USA) |
| Net worth | <$1 million |
Raising Bruce Willis
Marlene had a significant role in bringing up Bruce Willis. She taught him German traditions and values. She took care of her children and the household. Bruce had a disciplined upbringing, courtesy of his father’s military life and his mother’s commitment.
As a child, Bruce had a stutter. Marlene stood by him and eventually he managed to overcome the condition. This molded his confidence and acting career.
Family Life
Marlene and David had four children:
Bruce Willis – The renowned actor from the Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, and The Sixth Sense movies.
Florence Willis – A shy individual who creates and retails rags on Etsy. She is married to Dan Rogers, and they have four children.
David Willis – A movie producer who graduated from the University of Delaware. He has four children.
Robert Willis – A web designer who unfortunately died from pancreatic cancer in 2001. Bruce was a great help during his illness.
Marlene stayed close to all her children and cherished family ties.
The Death of Her Husband
Marlene’s husband, David Willis, was a welder, master mechanic, and factory worker after serving in the military. He died in 2009 at age 79. The passing was a trying period for the family. Marlene held strong and stayed put on helping her children and grandchildren.
Bruce Willis’s Health Issues
Bruce was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in recent years. It impacts speech, memory, and behavior. It has been tough on the whole family, particularly Marlene.
Her cousin, Wilfried Gliem, added that Marlene is concerned if Bruce still knows she is there. His illness has resulted in slow behavior, periodic aggression, and impaired communication. In spite of all this, she is hopeful and stands by him.
READ ALSO: Bruce Willis Net worth, Age, Wife, Family, Facts & More
Grandchildren and Legacy
Marlene is a grandmother to Bruce’s five daughters:
Rumer Willis – Actress and singer
Family is still the top priority for Marlene. She loves spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Not to Be Confused with Another Marlene Willis
It should be noted that Bruce Willis’s mother, Marlene Willis, is not identical with Marlene Willis (1942–1982). Another Marlene Willis was a performer and singer during the 1950s and 1960s.
