“Die Hard” Bruce Willis was given a terrible diagnosis: speech was disturbed, memory was lost

Action movie star diagnosed with dementia

The family of the 67-year-old Die Hard and Pulp Fiction actor released a statement sharing their diagnosis after Bruce Willis retired from acting due to aphasia. Relatives reported that the movie star was diagnosed with dementia.

Bruce Willis, who retired from acting last May due to aphasia, has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, his family announced Thursday.

According to The Guardian, in a statement posted on the website of the Frontotemporal Degeneration Association, the Die Hard actor’s family – wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore and daughters Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn – said the aphasia Willis developed into dementia. The speech and memory problems that sparked rumors about his cognitive condition and prompted him to retire in May 2022 are “just one of the symptoms of the illness Bruce is facing,” they wrote. “While it is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”

The statement said: “Frontotemporal dementia is a debilitating disease that many of us have never heard of and [которая] can hit anyone. In people younger than 60, frontotemporal dementia is the most common form of dementia, and since it can take years to make a diagnosis, frontotemporal dementia is probably much more common than we know. Today, there is no cure for this disease, and we hope that this reality may change in the coming years. As Bruce’s condition improves, we hope any media attention can be focused on shedding light on this disease, which requires much more awareness and research.”

Bruce Willis, who began his part-time television career, was one of the most profitable action stars of the 1980s and 1990s, known for the Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, The Fifth Element, The Last Boy Scout franchises. , “Twelve Monkeys”, “The Sixth Sense”, “Loop” and “Moonrise Kingdom”. The 67-year-old actor has also starred in several family comedies.

Willis continued his action film career in the years leading up to his retirement, albeit with diminishing returns – in 2021, the Razzies, an annual award given to the worst films of the year, established the category “Bruce Willis’ worst performance in a 2021 film.” The court canceled the award after the actor was diagnosed with aphasia.

The family said in a statement: “Bruce has always believed in using your voice in the world to help others and raise awareness of important issues both publicly and privately. We know deep down that – if he could today – he would want to respond by getting the world’s attention and connecting with those who are also struggling with this debilitating disease and how it affects so many people and their families.” .

The family also called for greater awareness and understanding of frontotemporal dementia. They said, “Bruce has always found joy in life—and has helped everyone he knows do the same. It was important for the whole world to see that this feeling of caring echoed on him and on all of us. We were so touched by the love you all shared for our dear husband, father and friend during this difficult time. Your continued compassion, understanding and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as fulfilling a life as possible.”