Over a year after disclosing that he was struggling with aphasia, Bruce Willis’ family confirmed that the famous Hollywood actor had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
The 67-year-old’s family broke the news to the public in a lengthy statement released on Thursday, February 16, in which they expressed satisfaction at having a definitive diagnosis.
Willis was diagnosed with aphasia in the spring of last year, which causes him to have trouble with both speaking and understanding spoken and written language. The statement claims that the aphasia has worsened and that doctors have given a clear diagnosis.
The statement, which was published on the website of the Frontotemporal Degeneration Association (FTD), explains that the family was relieved to finally have an answer to their prayers.
Members of the family said that there are currently no medications available for FTD, but they maintained optimism for the development of new therapies in the near future. They also wanted the media to pay greater attention to the condition because more needs to be done to raise awareness and funds for research.
In a statement, Willis’s wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore, and five daughters said that if the “Die Hard” actor could talk about his predicament, he would want more worldwide attention to the disease to promote awareness to those who are suffering from it.
The family also shared their appreciation for the outpouring of support from fans.
Bruce Willis became a household name in the 1980s and 1990s because of his roles as an action hero in films like The Sixth Sense, Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, and Armageddon.
The actor has been nominated for a total of five Golden Globes, taking home one. He had three Emmy nominations and two wins. After the onset of his aphasia in March 2022, Willis decided to end his acting career.
Award-winning actor Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad extended his sympathies to Willis and his family and referred to him as a “damn legend.” Queen Latifah, an actress and singer, also posted a message of support on Instagram.
