Sophia Michaels
If you’ve seen Bruce Willis’ recent movies, you might still picture him as the fearless action star from classic films. Despite a number of his later projects being released directly to video, the “Die Hard” legend managed to work on numerous films even in the later stages of his life. However, keen observers began to notice something unusual—Willis was not quite himself anymore.
In February 2023, just before the release of his last film, “Assassin,” it became known that Willis was battling frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a serious condition affecting personality and language capabilities. This diagnosis followed shortly after his family revealed his struggle with aphasia. FTD is a lesser-known but severe disease, as his family highlighted in a public statement. They expressed hopes for increased awareness and research for this condition, which currently has no treatment. The statement was shared by Bruce’s wife, Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore, and his children, who emphasized the importance of understanding this illness.
It’s heart-wrenching to think of such a revered figure facing a debilitating illness that impacts his passion for acting. Signs of his struggle were evident to those close to him even before the diagnosis was made public.
Many of his peers and fans noticed that he was no longer THE Bruce Willis
Although Bruce Willis continued to film towards the end of his career, many noticed that these lower-budget roles were challenging for him. Reports have surfaced indicating that he had difficulties on set, often needing an earpiece to help him remember his lines or requiring scripts to be shortened so he could complete his scenes more easily. Action sequences were largely performed by stunt doubles as Willis struggled with the physical demands of his roles. Director Mike Burns remarked on the visible decline he witnessed while working with Willis, prompting adjustments to accommodate his condition. There were even instances when Willis seemed confused about his role in the filming process.
Fans also perceived a difference in his performances. In her review of “Assassin,” Richard Roeper noted that while Willis spoke his lines correctly, he appeared lackluster, devoid of the energy and charisma that usually characterized his performances. The enthusiasm that once defined his acting was noticeably missing.
Willis officially stepped back from acting following the revelation of his aphasia in 2022. Currently, he, along with his family, is navigating this challenging journey one day at a time. “He’s stable, which is a good sign in this situation, even though it’s tough,” his daughter Tallulah shared in a September 2024 interview. “There are certainly challenging days, yet there is an abundance of love in our family.”
