Nearly one year after announcing his battle with aphasia, Bruce Willis received a “cruel” diagnosis. In a lengthy statement, the Willis family shared that he now has frontotemporal dementia. The family said the diagnosis is painful, but having a clear diagnosis is a relief.
The statement continues, “FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone. For 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.” The statement also says there aren’t any treatments for the disease, but they hope that will change in the future. The family emphasized that any media attention should focus on educating the public about the disease, which needs research and awareness as Bruce’s condition advances.
The statement, signed by Demi Moore, Emma Heming and his daughters, also stated that if Willis could talk about his situation, he would want to raise awareness and bring “global attention and connectedness” to others suffering from FTD. The statement concludes, “Bruce has always found joy in life 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 all of us.”
The family shared that they’ve been moved by the love and support everyone has shared for Willis during this challenging time, saying, “Your continued compassion, understanding, and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible.” According to the Mayo Clinic, Willis’ initial aphasia diagnosis indicated that he would struggle to write, speak, and understand language. However, despite his struggles, Willis continued to make public appearances and enjoy spontaneous jam sessions.
After his initial diagnosis, Willis’ current wife, Emma Heming, shared that she was dealing with “paralyzing grief.” She wrote on social media, “I’m learning how to live alongside it.” Hemming shared bits of wisdom from Willis’ daughter Scout, writing, “Grief is the deepest and purest form of love. I hope you find some comfort in that too.”
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Willis’ acting career began in the early 1980s with roles in films like “The Verdict,” “Blind Date” and “Sunset.” In 1985, his career boomed with his starring role opposite Cybill Shepherd in the ABC series “Moonlighting” and his iconic performance as action star John McClane in 1988’s “Die Hard.” In addition to starring in four “Die Hard” sequels, he’s had memorable turns in “Pulp Fiction,” “12 Monkeys,” “The Fifth Element,” “The Sixth Sense,” “Armageddon,” and more.
During his 40 years of acting, Willis’ movies have grossed more than $5 billion worldwide. He’s been nominated for five Golden Globes (winning one for “Moonlighting”) and three Emmys (winning one for “Moonlighting” and another for his “Friends” guest role). In the last several years, he’s only appeared in an assortment of direct-to-video movies. His last major film role was in 2019’s “Motherless Brooklyn” and the M. Night Shyamalan movie “Glass.” Continue to pray for the Willis family as they go through these troubling times.
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