43 seems too young for someone to already be a General. That's how old Bruce Willis was when The Siege was released. I wonder why Bruce had to be a General and not a Colonel or something. Or, why they even went with Bruce Willis and not some older actor.
shareBruce was probably inspired by starring with Keith David around that same time, since Keith made four-star by age 42 before sending Bruce to blow up an asteroid, so Bruce thought it was realistic.
Seriously though you're probably correct as even risers like MG Garrison or General McChrystal were in their mid-forties when they attained their second star. A career in specialized units and combat would make it plausible. Or, you know, WW2...
That would be correct if you're assuming that the character is the same age as the actor.
shareMaybe he was just that good at his job?
shareThe actual age of an actor doesn't really matter for any given role. All that really matters is how old the actor *looks* and Bruce Willis arguably looked old for his age for most of his acting career. Having watched The Siege, personally I totally buy Bruce Willis in that movie as someone who looks old enough to be an army general. The ironic thing is that 5 years later he played a mere lieutenant in the Navy SEALs in the movie Tears of the Sun. He looked way too old for that role.
shareJames Gavin, became a Major General, in October of 1944, he was 37 years old
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