Bruce Willis is one of the most beloved and celebrated actors in film and television history. He got his start on the legendary 1980s comedy-drama Moonlighting, before landing a breakthrough film role in 1988’s Die Hard. He showcased his comedy chops in the Look Who’s Talking series and continued his rise as an action star with the first two Die Hard sequels. After a dip in his career, he returned to the public eye thanks to Pulp Fiction, as well as 12 Monkeys, The Fifth Element, Armageddon, and The Sixth Sense. In the 2000s and 2010s, he enjoyed success as an action star (The Expendables, Red) and as a dramatic/comedic actor (Looper, Moonrise Kingdom). Sadly, in the 2020s, his health began to decline, and his career began to frazzle, with him appearing more frequently in lower-budget films.

Sadly, Bruce’s career came to a close in 2022 when his family made the heartbreaking announcement: he had been diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder affecting his cognitive abilities. “As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,” read a statement shared by his family on social media: wife, Emma Heming Willis, ex-wife Demi Moore, and his daughters, Rumer Willis, Tallulah Willis, Scout Willis, Mabel Willis, and Evelyn Willis.

Sadly, a year after the first announcement, the family gave an update: Bruce had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. “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,” the family wrote.

Despite this news, Bruce continued to remain in good spirits. He celebrated his 68th birthday in 2023 with his family, a bittersweet moment to some knowing his struggles. As he continues to live his life to its fullest, here’s what we know about his condition.

Bruce Willis Diagnosed With Frontotemporal Dementia Diagnosis

Bruce Willis’ family first announced he was diagnosed with aphasia on Mar. 30, 2022, in a post that was shared amongst all their social media accounts. “To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family, we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,” the statement read. “As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”

“This is a really challenging time for our family, and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion, and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you as you do to him. As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up,’ and together we plan to do just that,” the statement concluded. It was signed by Bruce’s daughters – Rumer, Tallulah, Scout, Mabel, and Evelyn Willis – and his wife Emma Hemming and ex-wife Demi Moore.

Aphasia is “a disorder that affects how you communicate,” per the Mayo Clinic. “It can impact your speech as well as the way you write and understand both spoken and written language.” The disorder can be a side effect of a stroke or a traumatic brain injury. It can also come on gradually due to a slow-growing brain tumor or a “disease that causes progressive permanent damage (degenerative).”

The condition sees a person speak in short or incomplete sentences, substitute one for another or one sound for another, have difficulty finding words and struggle to understand what they’ve read.

Bruce’s friends and peers paid tribute to him following this announcement. “Bruce and I became good friends when we shared two of our biggest hits together: Pulp Fiction and Look Who’s Talking,” wrote John Travolta. “Years later he said to me: ‘John, I just want you to know that when something good happens to you I feel like it’s happening to me.’ That’s how generous a soul he is. I love you, Bruce.”

“It’s been difficult to find the right words for someone I’ve always looked up to—first on the big screen and then by some wild stroke of luck in person,” wrote Haley Joel Osment, who starred alongside Bruce in The Sixth Sense. “He’s a true legend who has enriched all of our lives with a singular career that spans nearly half a century. I am so grateful for what I got to witness firsthand and for the enormous body of work he built for us to enjoy for years and years to come. I just wanted to express the respect and deep admiration I have for Bruce and his family as they move forward with the courage and high spirits that have always defined them.”

Following the announcement, Bruce enjoyed his life with occasional public sightings. However, in February 2023, his family announced that his condition had worsened.

“As a family we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the outpouring of love and compassion for Bruce over the past ten months. Your generosity of spirit has been overwhelming and we are tremendously grateful for it. For your kindness—and because we know you love Bruce as much as we do—we wanted to give you an update,” the family wrote in a statement published on the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website.

“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),” the statement continued. “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.”

“Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others,” the statement read “and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately. We know in our hearts that—if he could today—he would want to respond by bringing global attention and connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families.”

“Bruce has always found joy in life—and has helped everyone he knows do the same. It has meant the world to see that sense of care echoed back to him and all of us. We have been so moved by the love you have all shared for our dear husband father and friend during this difficult time. Your continued compassion understanding and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible,” the statement concluded. It was signed by his family.

What Is Frontotemporal Dementia?

Frontotemporal dementia according to the Mayo Clinic is an “umbrella term for a group of brain disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.” Some of the side effects listed include “Increasing difficulty in using and understanding written and spoken language such as having trouble finding the right word to use in speech or naming objects,” “no longer knowing word meanings,” and “no longer knowing word meanings.”

“FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone,” Bruce’s family wrote in their 2023 statement. “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. Today there are no treatments for the disease—a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. As Bruce’s condition advances we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research.”

“Ours is just one family with a loved one who suffers from FTD—and we encourage others facing it to seek out the wealth of information and support available through AFTD (@theaftd theaftd.org). And for those of you who have been fortunate enough not to have any personal experience with FTD we hope that you will take the time to learn about it and support AFTD’s mission in whatever way you can.”

How Long Has Bruce Willis Been Sick?

In Bruce’s case there were some suspicions that he was struggling with the condition years before the announcement. Mike Burns, director of Out of Death, wrote in an email about how Bruce’s role needed to be reduced. “We also need to abbreviate his dialogue a bit so that there are no monologues etc,” he wrote per the Los Angeles Times.

The Los Angeles Times also reported that “those who have worked with elder Willis on his recent films have expressed concern about Willis’ well-being.” In interviews with The Times, nearly two dozen people who were on set with him expressed concern about whether he was fully aware of his surroundings on set how he grappled with loss of mental acuity—and had an inability to remember dialogue.

Lala Kent, who appeared in Hard Kill, recounted an incident: “I’m supposed to think my life is about to end—and then my dad steps in to save the day,” Kent told The Times. Bruce was supposed to deliver a line that cued Kent to duck before he fired his gun at a villain.

Bruce didn’t deliver it correctly firing before saying it instead. “Because my back was turned I wasn’t aware of what was happening behind me—but at first it was like ‘No big deal let’s reset,’” she said. The same thing reportedly happened on second third takes per The Los Angeles Times (a crew member stressed they always made sure everyone was safe). Randall Emmett, Kent’s ex-partner denied this incident happened as did film’s armorer.

In May 2023 essay for Vogue, Tallulah opened up about realizing her dad’s mental state had changed years before learning about frontotemporal dementia diagnosis. When she was teenager (she was 29 when she shared personal essay) she noticed her dad seem uninterested sometimes generally unresponsive what was going on around him blaming it originally on “Hollywood hearing loss.”

However she began taking things personally thinking actor no longer cared about her since he started new family with Emma: “Later that unresponsiveness broadened—and I sometimes took it personally,” she recalled. “He had had two babies with my stepmother Emma Heming Willis—and I thought he’d lost interest in me—though this couldn’t have been further from truth my adolescent brain tortured itself some faulty math: I’m not beautiful enough for my mother—I’m not interesting enough for my father.”

How Is Bruce Willis Doing Today?

On March 19 2023 Bruce Willis turned 68 surrounded by loved ones. In video shared on Demi Moore’s Instagram family sang “Happy Birthday” chorus while actor smiled conducting it: “Just like that,” he said pulling fake out when came time blow out birthday candle.

“So today is my husband’s birthday—I started morning crying—as you can see by swollen eyes snotty nose,” commented Emma video posted her Instagram: “I just think it’s important see all sides this—I always get message or people tell me ‘Oh you’re so strong—I don’t know how do it.’ I’m not given choice—I wish I was—but I’m also raising two kids this so sometimes our lives have put big girl panties get it—and that’s what I’m doing—but do have times sadness every day grief every day—and I’m really feeling today on birthday.”

In November 2023 creator Glenn Gordon Caron claimed that Bruce is “not totally verbal” anymore during interview with The New York Post.

“He used be voracious reader—he didn’t want anyone know that—and he’s not reading now,” Glenn said: “All those language skills no longer available him—and yet still Bruce.”

While Bruce navigates tough diagnosis family has been extremely supportive unwavering by side: On Thanksgiving later month Scout shared sweet video sitting next father while held hand—rare social media appearance showed deep love Willis family has one another.

In August 2025 Bruce Emma opening up about health during ABC special.