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Star sues friend
04/08/2006 07:42 - (SA)
Los Angeles - US tough guy actor Bruce Willis is suing a childhood friend for extortion and violation of privacy, court documents show.
The civil lawsuit, filed by the star's attorneys in a Los Angeles court, claims 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 and buy him a car, among other things", in exchange for his silence, according to the court documents posted on TMZ.com, a website specialising 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
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South Africa
