The Hollywood world hasn’t been the same since Bruce Willis retired following his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis. As one of the most iconic faces of action cinema, fans who once sat on the edge of their seats during his films have closely followed the updates on his condition, often shared by his five children, Demi Moore, and other relatives.
Now, his wife, Emma Willis, is preparing to release the special “Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey” today, and her memoir “The Unexpected Journey” on September 9, where she reflects on her role as her husband’s caregiver. Ahead of its publication, Emma sat down with ABC News to discuss the actor’s current state.
Emma Heming Talks Candidly About Bruce Willis’ Condition
Emma Heming Willis has shared that while Bruce remains physically active, his overall health is good, though his brain has been failing him, with language particularly affected in recent times. “Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall” Heming Willis said. “It’s just his brain that is failing him… The language is going. We have a way of communicating with him, which is just a different way.”
She recalled noticing the first signs when Bruce, normally talkative and engaged, began acting “a little more quiet” in social settings. “When the family would get together, he would kind of just melt a little bit,” she explained. “He felt a little removed, very cold. Not like Bruce, who is very warm and affectionate. To go in the complete opposite of that was alarming and scary.”
Despite the challenges, Heming Willis said there are still “moments” where Bruce “returns.” She added: “Not days, but we get moments. He has such, like, a hearty laugh. And sometimes you’ll see that twinkle in his eye, or that smirk, and i just get, like, transported. And it’s just hard to see, because as quickly as those moments appear, then it goes.”
The special “Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey” premieres on ABC today at 8 p.m. ET, with streaming available the following day on Hulu and Disney+.