Featured Image Credit: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo / @demimoore/Instagram
Topics: News, Celebrity, Health, Bruce Willis
Charisa Bossinakis
Topics: News, Celebrity, Health, Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis has appeared in a family photo alongside his wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore, and their five children.
The photo, posted on Moore’s Instagram, shows Willis posing with his whole family in front of a Christmas tree to kick off the holiday season.
Moore captioned the photo: “We are FAMILY!! Getting into the holiday spirit!”
Ever since the Die Hard actor was diagnosed with aphasia, he has kept a relatively low profile.
In March, a statement posted on Rumer Willis’ Instagram account announced the actor was retiring due to his condition.
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The statement said: “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.
“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.”
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, aphasia is a language disorder elicited by damage in a specific brain area responsible for language expression and comprehension.
It leaves a person unable to communicate effectively with others, and many people experience it as the result of a stroke.
While many weren’t aware of the actor’s declining health, some co-workers had become suspicious after Willis struggled to remember his lines, as reported by the LA Times.
Jesse V. Johnson, director of the film White Elephant, recalls how a stuntman who had worked with Willis years ago told him he was not the same as he remembered.
Johnson even said there were moments during filming when the actor seemed extremely confused and unable to comprehend what was happening.
He added: “Someone would give him a line and he didn’t understand what it meant. He was just being puppetted.”
After the experience, Johnson said that production opted not to do a sequel given the Pulp Fiction star’s state.
“After our experience on White Elephant, it was decided as a team that we would not do another,” Johnson said.
“We are all Bruce Willis fans, and the arrangement felt wrong and ultimately a rather sad end to an incredible career, one that none of us felt comfortable with.”