Bruce Willis’ Wife Emma Shares Update on ‘Die Hard’ Star & Reveals Heartbreaking Detail
Bruce Willis‘ wife, actress and model Emma Heming Willis, has opened up about her husband’s dementia diagnosis and why the early signs were difficult to detect.
Speaking to veteran journalist Katie Couric for an interview with Town & Country on Tuesday, October 29, Emma revealed that Bruce’s initial signs of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) were mistaken for the return of his childhood stutter.
“Bruce has always had a stutter, but he has been good at covering it up,” Emma said, noting that it was because of his stutter that he was determined to pursue an acting career.
“He went to college, and there was a theater teacher who said, ‘I’ve got something that’s going to help you.’ From that class, Bruce realized that he could memorize a script and be able to say it without stuttering. That’s what propelled him into acting,” she continued.
Due to this medical history, Emma said she initially ignored the early warning signs. “As his language started changing, it [seemed like it] was just a part of a stutter, it was just Bruce,” she shared. “Never in a million years would I think it would be a form of dementia for someone so young.”
View this post on Instagram
Bruce’s family revealed his FTD diagnosis in February 2023. According to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, FTD is the most common form of dementia and can affect behavior, personality, language, and movement.
“Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research,” read a joint statement signed by Emma and the Pulp Fiction star’s ex-wife Demi Moore.
“For Bruce, it started in his temporal lobes and then has spread to the frontal part of his brain. It attacks and destroys a person’s ability to walk, think, make decisions,” Emma told Couric.
She added, “I say that FTD whispers, it doesn’t shout. It’s hard for me to say, ‘This is where Bruce ended, and this is where his disease started to take over.’ He was diagnosed two years ago, but a year prior, we had a loose diagnosis of aphasia, which is a symptom of a disease but is not the disease.”
Emma has been open about telling the couple’s youngest children Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, 10, that their father won’t get better. “I have never tried to sugarcoat anything for them,” she says. “I’m not trying to shield them from it.”
Since Bruce’s diagnosis, Emma has been a strong advocate for FTD families by sharing information on the disease and connecting with others going through the same situation.
“Today I’m much better than I was when we first received the FTD diagnosis,” she stated. “I’m not saying it’s any easier, but I’ve had to get used to what’s happening so that I can be grounded in what is, so that I can support our children. I’m trying to find that balance between the grief and the sadness that I feel, which can just crack open at any given moment, and finding joy.”
Conversation26 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
K
Let\'s not forget that FTD is genetic, I have lost three family members to it, and have two more who have positive genetic markers. I love the advocacy, but please don\'t hide this one important piece of information from the public. I love reading the updates and I am glad he is still here and his family remains by his side❤️
108
-
B
I lost my husband who was diagnosed in 2021 with FTD/ALS. I agree, it\'s an awful disease. I took care of my husband at home till the end. I commend everyone who has the ability to do this. You have a chance to make new memories.
Love them all you can, while you can. No regrets
89
-
G
I\'ve helped people with dementia pass. More so than any disease it helped me understand death and dignity. How we really enter this world as we leave it. We can all only hope to be loved as your husband was as he passed, and in life I\'m sure. I sincerely often hope it for myself, that and they are heavy handed with the morphine.
9
-
O
May God continue to bless and keep you. ⚘️🙏🏾⚘️🙏🏾
-
-
B
Sounds like Bruce\'s wife and family are very strong. Bless all of them including Bruce of course.
78
-
C
Having lost my husband to this cruel disease earlier this year, thank you for promoting an awareness of it. Your words really hit home. FTD does whisper. What I thought were just some of his \"quirks\" were probably the early signs of FTD. Hugs and prayers for you and your family as I have a good idea what is currently happening with Bruce and your family.
52
-
G
What kind of quirks?
1
-
-
G
God bless all of them! Bruce will always be a terrific actor. Yippee kai yay
47
-
O
This article did not share any update on how Bruce Willis is doing today.
41
-
C
Love Bruce. He was a fantastic actor. Wish he could make more movies. Love and support to all his family!!
36
-
G
God bless him and his family, prayers for all of them.
8
-
-
P
Love Bruce ❤️ Willis God Bless 🙌 🙏 ❤️ all of you 🙏 ❤️ ♥️ 😘
29
-
R
I\'m so glad that the love in the family will never fade and Bruce will always have that special bond with you all. My God bless all you do and I pray that he gives you all the strength you need.
25
-
G
Such wonderful love and support seen in Bruce\'s family💖
God\'s strength and Blessings be with you Bruce Willis and all his very loving supportive loved one\'s as they walk through this very difficult and heartbreaking time. 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Bruce you are such a wonderful good man and an amazing actor to all your movies we so enjoy! 💓
Yippy kai yea!!
Love you Bruce Willis❣️❤️
16
-
J
I have the behavioral variant of FTD. I can assure you that it is bad for the person with the disease if not worse. I was diagnosed a while ago and I am beginning to lose activity and ability at a much faster rate. It is scary as hell from this side!!! I am very lucky that I have good doctors and an even better and wonderful caregiver/wife! I completely feel for Mr. Willis, Wendy Williams, and everyone else with this horrible and incurable fatal disease!!! Please contribute to AFTD to maybe help find a cure!!!!
2
-
C
I\'m very sorry that you\'re having to experience such a frightening disease. Feeling that you\'re losing control of your life sounds horrendous. I\'m glad that you have a loving wife to offer support and safety. I wish you both strength and serenity.
-
-
R
Am looking after my fiancee who has FTD / ALS diagnosed in 2023, truly an awful disease, that people don\'t really truly understand.
1
-
B
The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s which contributes to 60-70% of cases, not FTD as quoted above.
-
B
Bruce ❤️❤️
-
P
God bless you and your family 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
-
C
My husband is same age and has same diagnosis and it\'s a terrible and lonely disease . I\'m solo caregiver and was a nurse for 35 yrs . I stopped working 2 yrs ago to be his caregiver and I\'d sell my soul for a cure or some hope
-
O
Luv Bruce, he is a very talented actor, let\'s hope the brilliant Doctors find a cure. The strong family support is really a blessing for him and to know he is being cared for is wonderful.
-
C
I admire her and Bruce’s entire family with how they are handling this terrible disease. Opening the public’s eyes and letting them know how to help is a gift.Thoughts, prayers, and strength to them all.
-
C
Emma. I’m so sorry that you and Bruce are going thru this. It is very hard to live with someone whom is so ill. My grandfather had dementia and my grandmother took care of him until his death. They made a promise to never let each other go to a nursing home. They never did. My grandma died. A year after, of untreated breast cancer. Your life is telling a story to future generations of your family.So take heart knowing God makes something beautiful from our ashes.
-
G
I love you, Bruce Willis...💜
-
C
So love Bruce Willis and pray for peace of mind and comfort for hime and family.
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services