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- Bruce Willis is best known for his roles in Die Hard, Pulp Fiction <\/em>and The Sixth Sense<\/em>.<\/li>\n
- In 2022, his family announced that Bruce was diagnosed with aphasia, a neurological disorder affecting speech.<\/li>\n
- The following year, his family announced his condition had worsened, and he\u2019d developed frontotemporal dementia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Bruce Willis<\/a> <\/strong>is one of the most beloved and celebrated actors in film and television history. He got his start on the legendary 1980s comedy drama Moonlighting<\/em>, before landing a breakthrough film role in 1988\u2019s Die Hard. <\/em>He showcased his comedy chops in the Look Who\u2019s Talking <\/em>series, and continued his rise as an action star with the first two Die Hard <\/em>sequels. After a dip in his career, he returned to the public eye thanks to Pulp Fiction<\/em>, as well as 12 Monkeys, The Fifth Element, Armageddon, <\/em>and The Sixth Sense<\/em>. In the 2000s and 2010s, he enjoyed success as an action star (The Expendables, Red<\/em>) and as a dramatic\/comedic actor (Looper, Moonrise Kingdom<\/em>.) Sadly, in the 2020s, his health began to decline, and his career began to frazzle, with him appearing more frequently in lower-budget films.<\/p>\n
Sadly, Bruce\u2019s career came to a close in 2022 when his family made the heartbreaking announcement: he had been diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder affecting his cognitive abilities. \u201cAs a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,\u201d read a statement shared by his family on social media<\/a>: wife, Emma Heming Willis<\/a><\/strong>, ex-wife Demi Moore<\/a><\/strong>, and his daughters, Rumer Willis<\/a>, Tallulah Willis<\/a>, Scout Willis<\/a>, Mabel Willis, <\/strong>and Evelyn Willis. <\/strong><\/p>\n
Sadly, a year after the first announcement, the family gave an update: Bruce had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. \u201cUnfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,\u201d the family wrote.<\/p>\n
Despite this news, Bruce continued to remain in good spirits. He celebrated his 68th birthday in 2023 with his family, a bittersweet moment to some knowing his struggles. As he continues to live his life to its fullest, here\u2019s what we know about his condition.<\/p>\n
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(Andrew H. Walker\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Bruce Willis Diagnosed With Frontotemporal Dementia Diagnosis<\/h2>\n
Bruce Willis\u2019 family first announced<\/a> he was diagnosed with aphasia on Mar. 30, 2022, in a post that was shared amongst all their social media accounts. \u201cTo Bruce\u2019s amazing supporters, as a family, we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,\u201d the statement read. \u201cAs a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a really challenging time for our family, and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion, and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him. As Bruce always says, \u2018Live it up,\u2019 and together we plan to do just that,\u201d the statement concluded. It was signed by Bruce\u2019s daughters<\/a> \u2013 Rumer, Tallulah, Scout, Mabel, and Evelyn Willis \u2013 and his wife, Emma Hemming, and ex-wife, Demi Moore.<\/p>\n
Aphasia is \u201ca disorder that affects how you communicate,\u201d per the Mayo Clinic<\/a>. \u201cIt can impact your speech, as well as the way you write and understand both spoken and written language.\u201d The disorder can be a side-effect of a stroke or a traumatic brain injury. It can also come on gradually due to a slow-growing brain tumor or a \u201cdisease that causes progressive, permanent damage (degenerative).\u201d<\/p>\n
The condition sees a person speak in short or incomplete sentences, substitute one for another or one sound for another, have difficulty finding words, and struggle to understand what they\u2019ve read.<\/p>\n
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Bruce, Rumer, and Demi Moore in 2011 (Carolyn Contino\/BEI\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Bruce\u2019s friends and peers paid tribute<\/a> to him following this announcement. \u201cBruce and I became good friends when we shared 2 of our biggest hits together, Pulp Fiction<\/em> and Look Who\u2019s Talking<\/em>,\u201d wrote John Travolta<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cYears later, he said to me, \u2018John, I just want you to know that when something good happens to you, I feel like it\u2019s happening to me.\u2019 That\u2019s how generous a soul he is. I love you, Bruce.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been difficult to find the right words for someone I\u2019ve always looked up to\u2014first on the big screen, and then by some wild stroke of luck, in person,\u201d wrote Haley Joel Osment<\/strong><\/a>, who starred<\/a> alongside Bruce in The Sixth Sense<\/em>. \u201cHe\u2019s a true legend who has enriched all of our lives with a singular career that spans nearly half a century. I am so grateful for what I got to witness firsthand, and for the enormous body of work he built for us to enjoy for years and years to come. I just wanted to express the respect and deep admiration I have for Bruce and his family as they move forward with the courage and high spirits that have always defined them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following the announcement, Bruce enjoyed his life with the occasional public sighting. However, in February 2023, his family announced that his condition had worsened.<\/p>\n
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Bruce in September 2022 (MB \/ MEGA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u201cAs a family, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the outpouring of love and compassion for Bruce over the past ten months. Your generosity of spirit has been overwhelming, and we are tremendously grateful for it. For your kindness, and because we know you love Bruce as much as we do, we wanted to give you an update,\u201d the family wrote in a statement<\/a>\u00a0published on the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince we announced Bruce\u2019s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce\u2019s condition has progressed, and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD),\u201d the statement continued. \u201cUnfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others,\u201d the statement read, \u201cand to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately. We know in our hearts that \u2013 if he could today \u2014 he would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBruce has always found joy in life \u2013 and has helped everyone he knows to do the same. It has meant the world to see that sense of care echoed back to him and to all of us. We have been so moved by the love you have all shared for our dear husband, father, and friend during this difficult time. Your continued compassion, understanding, and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible,\u201d the statement concluded. It was signed by his family.<\/p>\n
What Is Frontotemporal Dementia?<\/h2>\n
Frontotemporal dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic<\/a>, is an \u201cumbrella term for a group of brain disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.\u201d Some of the side effects listed include \u201cIncreasing difficulty in using and understanding written and spoken language, such as having trouble finding the right word to use in speech or naming objects,\u201d \u201cno longer knowing word meanings,\u201d and \u201cno longer knowing word meanings.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone,\u201d Bruce\u2019s family wrote in their 2023 statement. \u201cFor people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than we know. Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. As Bruce\u2019s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research. \u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOurs is just one family with a loved one who suffers from FTD, and we encourage others facing it to seek out the wealth of information and support available through AFTD (@theaftd<\/a>,\u00a0theaftd.org<\/a>). And for those of you who have been fortunate enough to not have any personal experience with FTD, we hope that you will take the time to learn about it and support AFTD\u2019s mission in whatever way you can.\u201d<\/p>\n
How Long Has Bruce Willis Been Sick?<\/h2>\n
In the case of Bruce, there were some suspicions that he was struggling with the condition years before the announcement. Mike Burns, <\/strong>director of Out of Death<\/em>, wrote in an email about how Bruce\u2019s role needed to be reduced. \u201cWe also need to abbreviate his dialogue a bit so that there are no monologues, etc,\u201d he wrote, per the Los Angeles Times.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
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Bruce in 2022 (Saban Films \/ courtesy Everett Collection)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The Los Angeles Times <\/em>also reported that \u201cthose who have worked with the elder Willis on his recent films, the actor has been exhibiting signs of decline in recent years. In interviews with The Times<\/em> this month, nearly two dozen people who were on set with the actor expressed concern about Willis\u2019 well-being.\u201d The unnamed individuals \u201cquestioned whether the actor was fully aware of his surroundings on set,\u201d how he \u201cgrappled with his loss of mental acuity,\u201d and had an \u201cinability to remember his dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lala Kent<\/strong>, who appeared in Hard Kill<\/em>, recounted an incident. \u201cI\u2019m supposed to think my life is about to end, and then my dad steps in to save the day,\u201d Kent told the Times<\/em>. Bruce was supposed to deliver a line that cued Kent to duck before he fired his gun at a villain.<\/p>\n
Bruce didn\u2019t and fired the prop gun before saying the line. \u201cBecause my back was to him, I wasn\u2019t aware of what was happening behind me. But the first time, it was like, \u2018No big deal, let\u2019s reset,’\u201d she said. The same thing reportedly happened on a second and third take, per the Los Angeles Times <\/em>(a crew member stressed that they always made sure everyone was safe and not in the line of fire.) Randall Emmett<\/strong>, Kent\u2019s ex and producer on the film, denied this incident happened, as did the film\u2019s armorer.<\/p>\n
In a May 2023 essay for Vogue<\/em><\/a>, Tallulah opened up about realizing her dad\u2019s mental state had changed years before learning of his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis. When she was a teenager (she was 29 when she shared the personal essay), she noticed her dad seem uninterested in her and sometimes generally unresponsive to what was going on around him. She and her family originally blamed it on \u201cHollywood hearing loss.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, she began to take things to heart and figured the actor no longer cared about her since he started a new family with Emma. \u201cLater, that unresponsiveness broadened, and I sometimes took it personally,\u201d she recalled. \u201cHe had had two babies with my stepmother, Emma Heming Willis, and I thought he\u2019d lost interest in me. Though this couldn\u2019t have been further from the truth, my adolescent brain tortured itself with some faulty math: I\u2019m not beautiful enough for my mother, I\u2019m not interesting enough for my father.\u201d<\/p>\n
How Is Bruce Willis Doing Today?<\/h2>\n
On March 19, 2023, Bruce Willis turned 68. He did so while surrounded by his loved ones. In a video shared on Demi Moore\u2019s Instagram<\/a>, his family sang \u201cHappy Birthday\u201d to him. The Die Hard <\/em>actor was all smiles while conducting this chorus. \u201cJust like that,\u201d he said. He even pulled a fake out when it came time to blow out his birthday candle.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo today is my husband\u2019s birthday. I have started the morning by crying, as you can see by my swollen eyes and snotty nose,\u201d commented Bruce\u2019s wife Emma in a video posted to her Instagram<\/a>. \u201cI just think it\u2019s important that you see all sides of this. I always get this message, or people tell me, \u2018Oh, you\u2019re so strong, I don\u2019t know how you do it.\u2019 I\u2019m not given a choice. I wish I was. But I\u2019m also raising two kids in this, so sometimes in our lives, we have to put our big girl panties on and get to it, and that\u2019s what I\u2019m doing. But I do have times of sadness every day, grief every day, and I\u2019m really feeling it today on his birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n
In November 2023, Moonlighting<\/em> creator Glenn Gordon Caron claimed that Bruce is \u201cnot totally verbal\u201d anymore during an interview with the New York Post<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe used to be a voracious reader \u2014 he didn\u2019t want anyone to know that \u2014 and he\u2019s not reading now,\u201d Glenn said. \u201cAll those language skills are no longer available to him, and yet he\u2019s still Bruce.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Bruce navigates the tough diagnosis, his family has been extremely supportive and unwavering by his side. On Thanksgiving later that month, Scout shared a sweet video<\/a> sitting next to her father while he held her hand. The rare social media appearance showed the deep love the Willis family has for one another.<\/p>\n
According to multiple reports, as of December 2024, Bruce Willis remains in an ongoing battle with frontotemporal dementia, and his family is prioritizing their time together as they prepare to celebrate the holidays. An insider who spoke to <\/span>InTouch Weekly<\/span><\/a><\/em> shared, \u201cAt this point, every second of connection with him is special.\u201d The source added,\u201dThey\u2019re still praying for a miracle and finding a cure for the disease, but they\u2019re mostly focused on spending quality time with him while they still can.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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