Bruce Willis's wife, Emma Heming Willis, has revealed that the actor's brain is 'failing him' and his 'language is going', more than two years after his diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia. In an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer, she described his condition and the family's adaptation to his changing communication abilities.
Heming Willis noted that Willis, now 70, remains physically active and in good health overall. 'It's just his brain that is failing him,' she said. 'The language is going. We've learned to adapt and we have a way of communicating with him, which is just a different way.'
The actor retired from acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia, a brain disorder affecting language and speech. His family later confirmed a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia. Heming Willis recalled early symptoms, including him becoming quieter and less engaged, which she described as 'alarming and scary'.
Despite the challenges, Heming Willis shared that there are still moments when her husband's personality shines through. 'It's his laugh. He has such a hearty laugh. And sometimes you'll get that twinkle in his eye or that spark,' she said. 'But as quickly as those moments appear, then it goes.'
Heming Willis, who married Willis in 2009 and has two daughters with him, is set to release a book about her caregiving experience titled 'Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope and Yourself on the Caregiving Path' on 9 September.
