Bruce was born in Davenport, Iowa, and spent his formative years in South Bend, Indiana. He later attended Indiana University before transferring to the University of Southern California, where he graduated from its esteemed Film School. Upon graduation, he began his career as a screenwriter, and his first produced Movie of the Week was the critically acclaimed "Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring," starring the talented Sally Field as a runaway girl who returns home, alongside David Carradine. Additionally, he penned the lyrics to the title song, which was later recorded by the renowned singer Linda Ronstadt.
Bruce's impressive body of work earned him a nomination for an Emmy Award for his teleplay, "The Defection of Simas Kudirka," starring the accomplished actor Alan Arkin. Moreover, he received a Christopher Award for his script, which tells the poignant true story of a Lithuanian sailor who attempted to defect to the United States by jumping aboard an American Coast Guard cutter.
In the late 1970s, Bruce relocated to Santa Barbara with his wife Cathy, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. In 1991, they co-founded Blue Point Books, a publishing house dedicated to releasing books that make a positive impact. Fifteen years later, Bruce edited "Harry Says: Boss Talk Without the Warm Fuzzies," a thought-provoking book based on the insights of a successful boss he had the pleasure of knowing in LA.
Sadly, Bruce passed away peacefully on February 5, 2014, at the age of 72, after a brief illness at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. His legacy continues to inspire and influence those who knew him, and his remarkable body of work remains a testament to his talent and dedication to his craft.
