American writer and friend of Bruce Willis, Glenn Gordon Caron, has said the Die Hard actor's 'joie de vivre is gone' following his diagnosis with dementia.
Willis' family first announced his health issues last year, when they revealed he had been diagnosed with aphasia.
In February 2023, they shared a follow-up to say it had progressed to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which can cause problems with behavior and language.
Willis retired from acting and is now largely staying out of the spotlight, but Caron, the creator of Willis' '80s series Moonlighting, has insisted that the actor is still happy that people can watch his performances from earlier in life.
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With Moonlighting now streaming on Hulu, Caron told the New York Post: “I know he’s really happy that the show is going to be available for people, even though he can’t tell me that.
"When I got to spend time with him we talked about it and I know he’s excited.”
Caron now tries to see his friend every month or so, though he admitted he's 'not always quite that good'.
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"I try and I do talk to him and his wife [Emma Heming Willis] and I have a casual relationship with his three older children,” Caron said.
“I have tried very hard to stay in his life. He’s an extraordinary person. The thing that makes [his disease] so mind-blowing is [that] if you’ve ever spent time with Bruce Willis, there is no one who had any more joie de vivre than he. He loved life and … just adored waking up every morning and trying to live life to its fullest.”
Caron went on to describe Willis as an 'amazing guy', adding that he feels Willis still recognizes who he is, despite seeing life 'through a screen door' now.
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"My sense is the first one to three minutes he knows who I am,” he said. “He’s not totally verbal; he used to be a voracious reader — he didn’t want anyone to know that — and he’s not reading now. All those language skills are no longer available to him, and yet he’s still Bruce.”
“When you’re with him you know that he’s Bruce and you’re grateful that he’s there,” Carol continued.
However, he added: "The joie de vivre is gone.”
When Willis' family announced the progression of his disease earlier this year, they said it 'meant the world' to see how people cared about him.
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"We have been so moved by the love you have all shared for our dear husband, father, and friend during this difficult time," the family said.
"Your continued compassion, understanding, and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible."
Topics: Bruce Willis, Health, Celebrity, Film and TV
Emily Brown