LOS ANGELES - US tough guy actor Bruce Willis is suing a childhood
friend hired to organize personal photographs for extortion and
violation of privacy, court documents show.
The civil lawsuit, filed by the star's attorneys Tuesday in a Los
Angeles court, claim that that Bruce DiMattia -- described in the
suit as a "childhood friend" and former employee -- is threatening
to publish Willis' private pictures and has been hawking a book
manuscript "containing lies" about the actor.
"Overcome by greed and jealous of his former friend's success,
DiMattia has threatened to unlawfully exploit private family
photographs and memorabilia belonging to Mr. Willis," the lawsuit
alleges.
DiMattia wants Willis "to pay him over 100,000 dollars and buy him
a car, among other things," in exchange for his silence, according
to the court documents posted on tmz.com, a website specializing in
celebrity affairs.
Willis counters that DiMattia lives for free in one of his homes
and refuses to move out, even though the defendant has not worked
for him since mid-2006.
The actor is suing for damages in excess of one million dollars and
the return of his private material.
Willis, 51, rose to fame in 1985 in the television series
"Moonlighting" and later went on to star as a tough guy cop in the
"Die Hard" movie series.
Willis is set to return to his role as police officer John McClane
in a fourth "Die Hard" film scheduled for a north America debut in
June 2007. - AFP