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Topics: Bruce Willis, Dementia, Celebrity, Film and TV
Callum Jones
Topics: Bruce Willis, Dementia, Celebrity, Film and TV
Bruce Willis' wife has explained why the Die Hard actor is now living separately from her and their children after being diagnosed with dementia.
Willis took a step back from acting in 2022, before his family announced in 2023 he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD).
FTD is an 'uncommon' type of dementia which impacts the lobes of the brain behind the forehead, affecting a person's behavior and language ability. More than 55 million people are living with dementia worldwide, and there is sadly no cure for the disease.
Many of Willis' family have provided health updates on the 70-year-old's wellbeing over recent months and years.
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His wife Emma Heming Willis detailed a lot regarding what family life is like nowadays, including the current housing situation after Willis moved out to a second home away from children Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11.
Describing it as one of the 'hardest' decisions the family have made, Willis said: "Bruce would want that for our daughters. He would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs."
The actor is currently living in a one-story house with a full-time caring team as his disease progresses.
"When we go over, either we're outside, or we're watching a movie…it's just really about being able to be there, and connect with Bruce," Willis added.
"It is a house that is filled with love, and warmth, and care, and laughter. And it's been beautiful to see that, to see how many of Bruce's friends continue to show up for him, and they bring in life, and fun."
Elsewhere in the interview, Willis went on to explain some of the first symptoms of dementia she noticed.
One in particular being routine changes, as Willis added: "He would always love taking the girls to school. And then those school runs just started to not happen as much."
Rather than doing his typical dad duties, Willis said her husband would just 'say nothing'.
"For someone who was very talkative and very engaged, he was just a little more more quiet and when the family would get together, he would kind of just melt a little bit," she continued.
Willis struggling with his speech was the next symptom that worried Willis, having seen a childhood stutter return.
The film star struggled with a speech impediment and could 'hardly talk' when he was younger, he'd previously revealed in a biography.
Willis recalled: "I started noticing that Bruce's stutter did reappear. I definitely started noticing it rev up a little bit more."