Die Hard was based on Roderick Thorp's 1979 novel, "Nothing Lasts Forever", the sequel to 1968's "The Detective"..which was adapted into a 1968 film of the same name that starred Frank Sinatra....Fox was therefore contractually obligated to offer Sinatra the lead role in Die Hard, but he turned it down.
The studio then pitched the film to Arnold Schwarzenegger as a sequel to his 1985 action film "Commando," he turned it down, as well, and the studio finally and reluctantly offered it to Willis.
(Made for only $28 million, Die Hard grossed over $140 million worldwide)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Hard
Willis also wanted to play Vincent Vega, one of the the lead characters in Pulp Fiction, but was ultimately turned down in favor of John Travolta, so Willis played boxer Butch Coolidge instead.
Interesting note about Pulp Fiction is the fact that the role of hit man Vincent Vega was initially written for Michael Madsen, however, 2 weeks before the script was finished, Madsen passed on the project - opting instead to play the role of Virgil Earp in "Wyatt Earp"
It took years for Tarantino to forgive Madsen.
(From The Daily Beast's "The Secrets of Pulp Fiction"
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