Bruce Willis is “happy” following his frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis, according to his family. One of his closest family members has shared a heartwarming update on the 71-year-old actor, who stepped away from Hollywood following his diagnosis.
Speaking to People exclusively, Willis’ daughter, Rumer Willis, shared that the Die Hard star is doing well currently. She highlighted that Willis readily recognizes both her and her daughter, Louetta, welcoming them with a warm smile. Describing her father’s current state, the 38-year-old said, “What’s been interesting having a family member with dementia, it’s like, he’s happy. As well as someone could be doing, given the circumstances, he’s doing well.”
She added, “When I get to see him, he sees me and [daughter] Louetta, and he starts smiling. So, there’s so much love and joy and tenderness that still exists there. And in terms of that, I would say that’s a huge win.” Acknowledging that dementia impacts everyone differently, Rumer emphasized that she is cherishing every moment spent with her father.
The impact of Bruce Willis’ dementia diagnosis on his family
Willis stepped away from acting following his 2023 diagnosis. Willis officially retired from acting following his diagnosis. The news brought his extended, blended family closer together, with ex-wife Demi Moore and daughters Rumer, Tallulah, and Scout rallying alongside his wife, Emma Heming Willis, to provide him continuous support. Emma has since become an active advocate for dementia awareness.
Reflecting on the impacts of the FTD diagnosis, she called dementia a ‘family disease.’ Speaking to EatingWell, Emma explained,
“When one person is diagnosed with dementia, it doesn’t stay contained to that individual. It reshapes an entire family system, and roles start to shift overnight. You move from a partner or a child or a friend into a caregiver, often without warning or preparation. Your daily life is impacted across the board: decision-making, finances, parenting, routines, it becomes something the whole family is navigating together.”
Additionally, Rumer told People that she has recently taken the APOE genetic test. This would help Willis’ daughter find out the probability of her developing a similar medical condition in the future.
This article was originally reported by Debmallya Chakraborty on ComingSoon.
