Fans were devastated to hear in February 2023 that Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. Almost a year earlier, Willis’s family had announced his retirement from acting, revealing his condition of aphasia. Since the diagnosis, his friends and family have been supporting the Die Hard actor.
Willis was earlier married to actress Demi Moore and they share three daughters: Rumer Willis, Scout Willis, and Tallulah Willis. The Stakeout actor has been married to his wife Emma Heming Willis since 2009 and the couple has two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn.
Bruce Willis health update: How’s the actor holding up against dementia diagnosis?
Bruce Willis‘ family first released a statement in March 2022, announcing that he had been diagnosed with aphasia. The condition made his language skills and communication difficult. They also announced his retirement from acting due to the impact the condition had on his cognitive abilities. The statement appeared on his daughter Rumer Willis’ Instagram page.
In February 2023, Willis’ family released another statement where they explained that his aphasia had progressed into frontotemporal dementia (via AFTD). They added that the issue with his communication was just one of the symptoms of his disease. The statement read:
Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD). Unfortunately, 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.
When Tallulah Willis appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show in November 2023, she provided an update on Willis’ health. She shared that his dementia was “really aggressive.” She shared that he was still the same, which she shared was the “best thing” the family could ask for considering the situation.
In an interview with Town & Country in October 2024, Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis opened up about the diagnosis. She shared that she first noticed something wrong when the Moonlighting actor’s language changed. She shared that even when it happened, the actor remained the same. She added that they never suspected dementia at that point.
His condition was revealed only a few years later. She shared about Willis’ condition, “I say that FTD whispers, it doesn’t shout. It’s hard for me to say, ‘This is where Bruce ended, and this is where his disease started to take over.’” While frontotemporal dementia is more prevalent among masses, the symptoms take some time to surface, making it hard to detect it early.
The latest update on the actor’s health comes from his ex-wife Demi Moore. Speaking to CNN on December 5, 2024, she shared that his health has been “stable” since the diagnosis. She shared with the outlet:
He’s in a very stable place at the moment. I’ve shared this before, but I really mean this so sincerely — it’s so important for anybody who’s dealing with this to really meet them where they’re at.
According to AFTD, frontotemporal dementia, also known as Pick’s disease, is the most common form of dementia affecting patients younger than 60 years old. The symptoms show up and progress from two years to two decades. The life expectancy for patients is between seven and thirteen years from when the symptoms surface.
Bruce Willis’ dementia diagnosis: A complete timeline
March 2022: The family announced his aphasia diagnosis.
February 2023: Bruce Willis’ condition progressed and the family confirmed his diagnosis as frontotemporal dementia.
September 2023: Emma Heming Willis appeared on TODAY for World FTD Awareness Week. In her first interview since her husband’s diagnosis, Heming Willis talked about caregiving and Willis’ health. She shared:
Dementia is hard. It’s hard on the person diagnosed, it’s also hard on the family. And that is no different for Bruce, or myself, or our girls. When they say this is a family disease, it really is.
When asked if Willis knew about his diagnosis, Heming Willis shared that “it’s hard to know.”
November 2023: Tallulah Willis shared with Drew Barrymore that her dad’s condition is really aggressive.
March 19, 2024: Demi Moore posted a picture of her sitting beside Willis on his 69th birthday. She wrote in the post, “Happy birthday, BW! We love you and are so grateful for you.”
Rumer Willis also shared snaps with her dad for his birthday. She wrote in the carousel post, “You are the funniest, most tender, charming, out of this world silly talented and magical papa.”
September 18, 2024: Tallulah Willis appeared on TODAY to reflect on her father’s condition. She shared that the actor was “doing stable” but added, “There’s painful days, but there’s so much love.”
October 2024: Emma Heming Willis opened up about the actor’s first signs of dementia during an interview with Town & Country.
December 5, 2024: Demi Moore shared with CNN that Willis is in a “very stable place at the moment”.
Heming is currently preparing to release a guidebook on caregiving that draws upon her experiences of looking after the Sixth Sense actor. Her book, The Unexpected Journey, will be released on September 9, 2025.
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