The Brief
Bruce Willis’ wife says he is healthy and mobile, but his brain is failing due to frontotemporal dementia.
The family has adapted and cherishes moments like his laugh and smile.
He retired in 2022 after his diagnosis, closing a decades-long Hollywood career.
LOS ANGELES – Actor Bruce Willis’ wife is giving the public an update on his health as he battles aphasia, more specifically frontotemporal dementia.
Emma Heming Willis recently spoke with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer for an upcoming special, airing Tuesday night.
What they’re saying:
“Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall, you know,” she said. “It’s just his brain that is failing him.”
“The language is going, and, you know, we’ve learned to adapt,” she added. “And we have a way of communicating with him, which is just a … different way.”
But Heming has pointed out some highlights.
“Not days, but we get moments,” Heming explained to Sawyer. “It’s his laugh, right? Like, he has such, like, a hearty laugh. And, you know, sometimes you’ll see that twinkle in his eye, or that smirk, and, you know, I just get, like, transported.”
What happened to Bruce Willis?
The backstory:
In 2022, Bruce stepped away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that causes loss of the ability to understand or express speech.