Bruce Willis’ family said that he is diagnosed with incurable dementia, less than a year after he resigned from acting due to worsening cognitive issues. The 67-year-old American actor best known for his role in the “Die Hard” franchise left Hollywood in March and has been out of the spotlight since.
“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,” a statement said.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an umbrella term for illnesses that impair the parts of the brain responsible for personality, conduct, and language.
“Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces,” the family statement said. “While this is painful, it is a relief to have a precise diagnosis finally. (Tramadol)
“Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead.”
The frontal and temporal lobes of the brain decrease in FTD patients, according to doctors.
Other patients lose their ability to communicate
The Mayo Clinic says FTD can begin between the ages of 40 and 65 and is the cause of up to a fifth of all dementia cases.
Bruce’s current wife, Emma Heming Willis, as well as his former wife, actress Demi Moore, and his daughters Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, and Evelyn issued a family statement saying the actor had always fought to raise awareness about vital causes.
“We know in our hearts that — if he could today — 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,” it said.
Bruce has been a regular on both the small and big screens since the 1980s when he rose to notoriety in the television series “Moonlighting.”
Yet it was as the hard-bitten hero John McClane in “Die Hard” that he established himself as a bankable major film star, launching a career that has earned him billions of dollars of box office revenue.
Despite his tough-guy persona, he has had a lot of success with more family-friendly material, including providing the voice for the baby in the hit “Look Who’s Talking.”
Another of his most well-known parts was as the deceased person seen by Haley Joel Osment in “The Sixth Sense.”
The entertainment sector reacted quickly
“Love you so much my friend,” wrote “Breaking Bad” star Aaron Paul on Rumer Willis’ Instagram. “Sending hugs to you and that beautiful family of yours. Your pop is such a damn legend.”
“An abundance of love for you dear Demi, for Bruce, for all of you,” “Jumanji” and, “Cars” star Bonnie Hunt said on Demi Moore’s Instagram page.
During his career, Bruce Willis received a Golden Globe and two Emmys.