Cybill Shepherd Opens Up About Mending Fences with Bruce Willis and Christine Baranski: “It Was Time”
Cybill Shepherd is looking back with grace, gratitude, and a sense of peace. In a heartfelt conversation with PEOPLE, the beloved actress revealed that she has finally mended relationships with her former costars Bruce Willis and Christine Baranski — two people who played pivotal roles during different stages of her storied career. For years, there had been rumors of tension and creative clashes behind the scenes, but Shepherd says the time for old grudges has passed. “It was time,” she admitted, her voice filled with warmth and reflection. “Sometimes, you just realize life’s too short to hold on to things that don’t serve you anymore.”
Shepherd’s relationship with Willis traces back to the mid-1980s, when the two starred in the hit series Moonlighting, a show that catapulted both into stardom and helped define an entire era of television. The chemistry between them was electric — witty, romantic, and unpredictable — but so were the stories of friction on set. Creative differences and long filming hours led to well-documented conflicts, something both actors would later acknowledge in interviews. “Bruce and I were both passionate people. We were strong-willed, and sometimes that collided,” Shepherd said. “But there was always mutual respect underneath. Even when we were at odds, I admired his work ethic and talent.”
After decades of little contact, Shepherd says reconnecting with Willis was emotional, especially given his recent health challenges. “When I reached out, it wasn’t about the past anymore. It was about love, about wanting him to know I care,” she shared tenderly. “Seeing him surrounded by family and love reminded me how fragile and beautiful this life really is.” Friends close to Shepherd say the gesture brought her immense peace — a closure that had been missing for years.
Her reconciliation with Christine Baranski was equally meaningful. The two starred together on Cybill, the 1990s sitcom that earned critical acclaim and multiple awards, but behind the laughs were creative tensions that often spilled into the headlines. “Christine is such a force. She’s brilliant, and she challenged me — in good ways and hard ways,” Shepherd reflected. “We’ve both grown since then. I think we can look back now and see how much we learned from each other.”
The reunion, she says, wasn’t about rehashing old issues but about acknowledging shared history. “We’ve all been through so much in our personal lives and careers. You realize at some point that forgiveness isn’t about forgetting — it’s about freeing yourself,” Shepherd added. “When I spoke to Christine, it just felt natural, like no time had passed at all.”
Shepherd’s willingness to reconcile seems to come from a place of deep introspection. Now in her seventies, she’s candid about how time changes perspective. “When you’re younger, you think you have all the time in the world. But you don’t,” she said. “So, I try to choose kindness now, always.”
Her reflections serve as a reminder that even in an industry known for ego and rivalry, healing is possible. “We’re all just people trying to do our best,” she mused. “And sometimes, doing your best means picking up the phone and saying, ‘I miss you.’”
For Cybill Shepherd, this chapter isn’t about fame or nostalgia — it’s about peace, maturity, and reconnection. “It’s funny,” she laughed softly, “after all these years, what matters most isn’t the shows or the awards. It’s the people who shared the journey with you.”
