Haley Joel Osment reminisces fondly about his former on-screen partner, Bruce Willis, from their iconic film "The Sixth Sense." In a heartfelt interview marking the 25th anniversary of the 1999 thriller, the now 36-year-old actor reveals that even years after their memorable collaboration, Willis, 69, would consistently reach out to check on him.
"In the years that followed our film's release, I received countless messages from Bruce," Osment shared with Entertainment Weekly. "He would leave voicemails at my house, just dropping in to see how I was doing. It was always a pleasant surprise."
He elaborated, "He'd call out of the blue, especially before we embarked on joint trips, like our two visits to Japan together to promote 'The Sixth Sense' in different cities. He'd give me a heads-up, and sometimes, when I came home from school, the answering machine would be blinking with his voice, saying something as simple yet heartwarming as, 'Hey, Haley Joel. Just saying hi.'"
Osment, who was just a spry 10 years old when he starred alongside Willis as the enigmatic psychologist Malcolm Crowe in M. Night Shyamalan's global sensation, recounted the thrill of working with such a legendary figure. "By then, I had watched plenty of Bruce's movies, which only added to the excitement of sharing the screen with him," he reminisced.
"This experience left an indelible mark on my career," Osment continued. "Collaborating with someone whose work you've admired from afar is a dream come true, especially at an age when I was fully aware of his star power. He was the first major celebrity I worked with, and it made a huge impression."
Recalling Willis's larger-than-life presence on set, Osment said, "He exuded a cool charm and charisma that naturally set the tone for the film we were making. With Bruce at the helm, everything fell into place seamlessly. We all cared deeply about the script and put our hearts and souls into it, and he led the way."
Sadly, Willis's family announced in March 2022 that he had been diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder affecting his cognitive abilities, forcing him to step back from his acting career. Osment expressed his support, noting, "I've had the pleasure of knowing his daughters a bit, but I haven't spoken to Bruce since the news of his health challenges. My thoughts are with him and his family during this time."
Stream "The Sixth Sense" now and revisit the enchanting partnership between Haley Joel Osment and Bruce Willis that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
