1 MINUTE AGO: Bruce Willis Wife Is Saying Goodbye After Her Husband's Tragic Diagnosis

Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with a form of dementia you know what I'm learning is that dementia is hard it's hard on the person diagnosed it's also hard on the family um and that is no different for Bruce or myself or our girls with his rugged charm and undeniable confidence Bruce Willis went from an ordinary man to a Hollywood icon nothing can keep me down I've been attacked by terrorists asteroids film critics music critics restaurant critics none of it stopped me because I am still Bruce Fu will his rise began with a hit TV show and continued through Blockbuster films making him a box office sensation for over 20 years our first guest is a huge movie star in his latest film hostage opens Friday please welcome the incredible Bruce Willis however a serious illness has recently upended his career in life in response his wife Emma Heming Willis has care ously shared how this condition has impacted the Diehard star does does he know what's going on is that something that he is aware of hard to know what heartbreaking Health Challenge is Bruce facing stay tuned as we reveal the details from bluecollar Beginnings to Hollywood stardom Walter Bruce Willis was born on March 19th 1955 in idar oberstein West Germany his mother marleene was from Castle Germany while his father David Willis was an American Soldier Bruce had a younger sister named Florence and two younger brothers Robert and David after his father was discharged from the military in 1957 the family moved to Carney's Point New Jersey where David had grown up his family background was rooted in a working class lifestyle his mother worked at a bank and his father took on various jobs including welding working as a Master Mechanic and in a factory during his childhood Bruce struggled with a stutter he attended pens Grove High School in Carney's Point Township where his peers gave him the nickname buck buck despite his speech impediment Bruce discovered that acting on stage helped ease his stutter so he joined the school's drama club his confidence grew and he was eventually elected student council president in 197 3 Bruce graduated from pens Grove High School marking the end of his Early Education After High School Bruce worked in various jobs he started as a security guard at the Salem nuclear power plant is it true that at one time you were a security guard at a nuclear plant that was being built was right out of high school I was down in South Jersey Salem Nuclear Generating Station and later worked in transportation moving crew members at the DuPont Chambers Works Factory in Deepwater New Jersey around this time he also had a brief stint as a private investigator a job he would later draw upon for his roles in the TV series Moonlighting and the film The Last Boy Scout his interest in acting continued to grow so he decided to pursue it more seriously he enrolled in the drama program at Montclair State University where he was cast in a production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof however Bruce left the university in 1977 before complet comping his degree he then moved to New York City where he sought opportunities to establish himself as an actor in the early 1980s Bruce supported himself by working as a bartender at kamakazi an art bar located in Manhattan during this period he lived in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood a vibrant area known for its artistic Community although his path was not easy his determination and early experiences laid the foundation for his future success UC in Hollywood the rise of Bruce Willis Look Who's Talking Mercury Rising color of night Fifth Element Hearts War please welcome Ashton Kutcher's dad Bruce Willis after finishing High School Willis followed his father's example and began working in manual labor jobs he started at a chemical Factory and later took a position as a security guard however his passion for acting led him back to education he enrolled as a drama student at Montclair State University in New Jersey despite his growing interest in acting Willis felt a strong desire to pave his own way after completing his sophomore year he decided to leave school and move to New York City determined to pursue a career in acting Willis admired actors like Robert dairo Gary Cooper Steve McQueen and John Wayne but finding acting work proved challenging he took on various jobs including waiting tables and bartending while auditioning whenever possible his first significant opportunity came in 1977 when he made his debut in the Off Broadway play Heaven and Earth this role led to more stage work but by 1980 Willis transitioned to film he landed a small role in the Frank Sinatra movie the first deadly sin two years later he secured another minor part in the verdict a film starring Paul Newman Willis also gained some television exposure with appearances in episodes of heart-to-heart and Miami Vice in 1984 Willis had a breakthrough after replacing Ed Harris in the off Bradway hit fool for love encouraged by this success he decided to try his luck in Hollywood he traveled West to audition for the Madonna film Desperately Seeking Susan but he didn't get the role however he made made a pivotal decision to stay an extra day in audition for a new romantic TV comedy called Moonlighting set to air the following March how you feeling Dave I think I'm going to make it through the honeymoon Rich damn for his audition Willis dressed in combat fatigues with a punk haircut and read for the part of David Addison a wise cracking private investigator his Lively and Charming performance impressed the TV executives and he won the role beating out about 3,000 other actors Moonlighting co-starring cble Shepard focused on the Crim solving Adventures of Maddie Hayes Shephard and Addison at the Blue Moon detective agency hey hey what you doing man let check it just check in the show which ran until May 1989 was a massive hit on ABC and became a major career launching platform for Willis according to ABC Talent vice president Gary pudney he was appealing to both women and men making him a highly valuable asset for the network in 1987 Willis returned to film starring alongside Kim Bassinger in the comedy blind date that same year Willis married actress Demi Moore additionally his passion for blues music led him to record return to Bruno a collection of bluesy soul songs Under mtown records the album achieved modest success showcasing another side of Willis's talents from Action Hero to versatile star Bruce Willis Rose to fame as John mlan in Die Hard a role that became iconic and firmly established him as a leading action star in Hollywood his portrayal of the tough quick-witted cop resonated with a es making him a household name the success of Die Hard was followed by its sequels further cementing his status however the early 1990s presented challenges in his career with several films failing to meet expectations despite this Willis managed to deliver notable performances keeping his career afloat I have no real image of 24 years or 25 years going by during this period Willis starred in several films that didn't perform well at the box office which caused a dip in his popularity however he experienced a Resurgence with his role in Quenton Tarantino's Pulp Fiction this critically acclaimed film provided a significant boost to his career reminding audiences of his versatility as an actor around this time he also took on roles that showcased his ability to engage with different genres including animated films and dark comedies as his career progressed Willis became involved in a variety of projects Beyond traditional acting roles he lent his voice to animated characters and even took on the role of an executive producer for the cartoon Bruno the kid which featured a CGI version of himself big eye I mean big eye l a l n his work extended to collaborations with other major actors and directors further establishing his presence in the entertainment industry despite some of his films not being well-received by critics Willis continued to be a consistent figure in Hollywood in the late 1990s Willis faced another slump in his career with films that were not critically successful however he managed to bounce back with the success of The Sixth Sense this film was a turning point receiving both commercial and critical Acclaim sometimes Hollywood uh Hollywood does provide you with outrageous for and reaffirmed Willis's status as a major star his performance in the film was widely praised and it marked a new chapter in his career Beyond his film work Willis made several memorable appearances on television including a notable guest role on the sitcom Friends for which he won an Emmy you know why because you're a neat guy he became known for his playful and humorous side often appearing on talk shows like The Late Show with David Letterman where he would stage elaborate jokes and stunts that endeared him to fans and you know the whole thing got blown out of proportion by the tabloids of course I know you've had a lot of problems with the tabloids yourself Willis's influence extended to International markets as well particularly in Japan where he appeared in Subaru Legacy commercials his collaborations with other high-profile actors and his willingness to take on diverse roles kept him relevant in an everchanging industry despite occasional setback Willis consistently demonstrated his ability to adapt and Thrive maintaining a significant presence in Hollywood over the decades in addition to his film and television work Willis was involved in music and even contributed to an album with Blues Traveler he also participated in advertising campaigns such as the one for Norwich Union which was rebranded as AV viiva throughout his career he has shown versatility qualities that have allowed him to remain a prominent figure in the entertainment industry business ventures in the final years of his career Bruce Willis transitioned into a new phase of acting starring in numerous low-budget independent Thrillers and science fiction films his work during this period was largely associated with two production companies EMT Furla Oasis led by Randall EMT and 38 entertainment Inc managed by Cory large EMT Furla Oasis was particularly not able for producing 20 films featuring Willis according to Chris nashawati of Esquire this production company served as a profitable Safe Harbor for older actors much like the The Expendables series many of these films went straight to video and were generally poorly received by critics despite the negative reviews Willis remained a key figure in these movies he often earned around $2 million for just two days of work with an average screen time time of approximately 15 minutes per film despite his minimal screen presence he was prominently featured in promotional materials which led to these films being dubbed gezer teasers in 2021 the golden raspberry Awards even introduced a new category the worst Bruce Willis performance in a 2021 movie to recognize his roles in eight films released that year Willis's personal life and business ventures also expanded during this time he owns properties in Los Angeles and pens Grove New Jersey and rents apartments in Trump Tower and Riverside South Manhattan these assets reflect his continued success and personal stability in 2000 Willis along with his business partner Arnold riffkin established a motion picture production company called Cheyenne Enterprises however Willis stepped away from the company in 2007 following the release of Live Free or Die Hard leaving riffkin to run it independently Beyond film Willis ventured into other business interests in Haley Idaho he owns several small businesses including the mint bar and the Liberty Theater he was also an early supporter of Planet Hollywood a venture with fellow actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone the actors involved were compensated through an employee stock ownership plan benefiting from their promotional efforts in 2009 made a significant business move by signing a contract to become the international face of sobeski vodka a brand Under Bader sa in exchange he received a 3.3% ownership stake in the company this deal marked a notable expansion of his business portfolio later in 2018 Willis became the brand ambassador for hell energy drink a Hungarian energy drink brand further extending his influence in the beverage industry the political evolution of Bruce Willis before Donald Trump's 2016 elections several media Outlets spread false quotes attributed to Bruce Willis to support Trump's campaign one fabricated quote falsely attributed to Willis stated before every election there were debates and conflicts but once a winner was chosen everyone stood behind the president now the fighting continues long after the 2016 election I don't like that it doesn't look good if you don't like him go to Canada or something fact Checker Snopes confirmed that this quote was entirely false Bruce Willis has not publicly declared his political affiliations leading some fans to speculate that he may lean Republican the only significant public discussion of his political views occurred in a 2007 interview with Bill O'Reilly during this interview Willis described himself as holding a mix of liberal and conservative opinions he noted I have just as many contrary opinions about everything I have just as many liberal ideas as I have conservative ideas and I argue with myself there were reports suggesting Willis voted for George HW Bush in past elections in the same O'Reilly interview Willis expanded on his beliefs I do have contrary opinions about it you know small government yes less taxes yes less government intrusion yes his political stance appeared to shift in the years that followed in 2020 Bruce Willis faced public scrutiny after being kicked out of a Right Aid store in Los Angeles for refusing to wear a mask this incident led to speculation about his political views with some wondering if he supported the president who had changed his stance on mask wearing multiple times back in 1988 Willis and his then wife Demi Moore actively supported Michael Dukakis the Democratic governor of Massachusetts during his presidential campaign their involvement in dukakis's campaign was significant reflecting Willis's early political engagement however Willis's political views evolved over time by the 1992 presidential election he publicly supported President George HW Bush and was vocal about his criticism of Bill Clinton who was running against Bush and eventually became president in 1996 Willis's political alignment changed again he did not support Bob Dole the Republican candidate against Clinton partly because Dole had criticized Demi Moore's role in the film strip teas Willis's decision not to endorse Dole was influenced by his desire to defend his wife Willis's connection with the Republican Party continued into 2000 when he was invited to speak at the Republican National Convention during this event he expressed his support for George W bush in 2006 he made a notable statement on US foreign policy suggesting that the US should be more active in combating Narcotics trafficking in Colombia he also supported increasing salaries for teachers and police officers and believed in the right to own firearms in February 2006 while promoting his film 16 blocks in Manhattan Willis expressed frust ation with politics and criticized the Bush Administration he described himself as a republican only in terms of wanting a smaller government less interference and reduced wasteful spending he criticized taxpayer money mismanagement and lobbyists influence in Washington describing himself as apolitical in the 2008 presidential elections Willis did not endorse any candidates but acknowledged holding some Republican belief on August 17th 2006 he supported Israel in a Los Angeles Times advertisement during the Israel Lebanon conflict in the 2012 Presidential election Willis made it clear he did not favor Mitt Romney the Republican candidate opposing Barack Obama personal life during Bruce Willis's successful rise in Hollywood his personal life also experienced significant changes in 1987 he married Act Demi Moore and the couple quickly became one of the most celebrated pairs in the industry they had three daughters rumor born in August 1988 Scout and Tula despite their Fame Bruce and Demi tried to keep their family life private and away from the public eye balancing a demanding career with Family Life proved challenging for Willis the intense scrutiny that came with Fame made it difficult to manage both aspects of his life these pressures culminated in a highly publicized divorce from Demi Moore in 2000 despite these personal struggles Bruce remained focused on his career and maintained a positive relationship with his children and ex-wife he reflected on the divorce saying he felt he had failed as a father and a husband he credited actor Will Smith for helping him cope with this difficult period even after the separation Bruce continued to nurture a close friendship with Demi Moore and her new husband actor Ashton Kutcher he attended their wedding demonstrating his commitment to maintaining good relations with his ex-wife Willis admired several actors as Role Models including Gary Cooper Robert dairo Steve McQueen and John Wayne known for being left-handed he resides in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles with his family Bruce Willis first met Demi Moore at the premiere of the film Stakeout they married on November 21st 1987 and soon welcomed their first daughter rumor their family grew with the births of scout and Tula on June 24th 1998 Bruce and Demi announced their separation they filed for divorce on October 18th 2000 and the divorce was finalized later that same day during this time he felt a strong sense of personal failure but found support from friends like Will Smith his ongoing friendship with Demi Moore and Ash Aston Kutcher was notable and he even attended their wedding reflecting his commitment to maintaining amicable relationships in 2004 Bruce Willis was engaged to actress Brook Burns however their relationship ended after 10 months he later married model Emma Heming in a ceremony held in Turks and Kos on March 21st 2019 this wedding was attended by his three daughters Demi Moore and Ashton C since the ceremony was not legally binding Bruce and Emma held a second civil ceremony in Beverly Hills 6 days later together they have two daughters one born in 2012 and another born in 2014 Bruce Willis's frontotemporal dementia Bruce Willis the acclaimed actor has been diagnosed with fronto temporal dementia a rare and early onset form of Dem dementia identifying the specific type of dementia a patient has is crucial as it influences the care required and the expectations for the patient and their family Willis who is 67 is experiencing frontotemporal dementia Which is less common and typically presents earlier than other types of dementia Dr Nicholas Milano a neurologist at the muc health memory disorders clinic explains that frontotemporal dementia is an umbrella term encompassing two major types the behavioral variant and primary Progressive Aphasia the behavioral variant involves significant changes in personality individuals may exhibit disinhibition become apathetic and struggle with problem solving Willis was initially diagnosed with Aphasia in March 2022 his family has since reported that his condition has advanced to frontotemporal dementia dementia is hard it's hard hard on the person diagnosed it's also hard on the family um and that is no different for Bruce or myself or our girls Dr Milano suggests that while he cannot provide specific details about Willis's case the initial diagnosis of aphasia likely fits within the primary Progressive Aphasia category the prognosis for frontotemporal dementia typically involves an average life expectancy of about 9 years from the onset of symptoms however from the time of diagnosis the average expectancy is approximately 5 years partly due to delays in diagnosis unfortunately there are no current cures or methods to slow the progression of this type of dementia the Rarity of frontotemporal dementia compared to Alzheimer's disease means there has been less research and fewer effective treatments developed despite these challenges a multidisciplinary approach involving doctors family members and various Specialists such as psychiatrists speech therapists and neurologists can help manage the condition and ensure the patient Comfort Emma Heming Willis Bruce Willis's wife has been actively sharing their Journey on Instagram she responded to headlines suggesting that Willis's condition had drained all joy from his life in her posts Emma refuted these claims asserting that such reports are far from the truth Emma highlighted that despite the difficulties posed by dementia their lives are filled with love connection and happiness C there's so many beautiful things happening in our lives um it's just really important for me to look up from the grief and the sadness so that I can see what is happening around us she expressed frustration with negative portrayals that can scare others into thinking that a diagnosis of dementia equates to an end of quality of life Emma emphasized that while dementia is challenging it also brings out a beautiful side of life Bruce Willis announced his retirement from acting following his diagnosis similarly Wendy Williams recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with the same conditions after stepping back from her show Williams's behavior on her show had raised concerns as she occasionally struggled with speech and appeared erratic Emma has also also used Instagram to call for privacy and respect for her husband particularly when he is out in public she has asked Paparazzi to maintain their distance and avoid intrusive Behavior stressing the importance of allowing her husband and their family the space they need Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis have two daughters together finding strength and joy amidst health challenges despite being diagnosed with front temporal dementia Bruce Willis is managing well and finds joy in his role as a grandfather his daughter rumor has spoken about how Bruce a self-described girl dad through and through is deeply involved with his granddaughter who is just one-year-old this relationship has rekindled fond memories for Bruce reminding him of the special bond he had with his own daughters during their early years the family's experiences have been further enriched by the overwhelming support support and love they have received from the public since Bruce's diagnosis now the Hollywood star Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with a form of dementia his family released a statement to say that it was a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis for Bruce Willis's health condition Rumor Has emphasized the importance of their transparency about Bruce's condition she believes that their openness can be a source of support and guidance for other families who are facing fa ing similar struggles by sharing their Journey they hope to provide comfort and useful insights to those dealing with comparable challenges Bruce Willis retired from acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with Aphasia a condition that impairs speech and communication in 2023 his diagnosis was updated to include frontotemporal dementia a progressive disease that affects the brain's frontal and temporal lobes currently the there are no known treatments for this form of dementia which makes the situation even more challenging despite this Bruce and his family remain hopeful that future medical research will bring advancements and potential treatments recently Bruce was seen in Los Angeles looking visibly Slimmer as he went out to grab a coffee photographs taken on Friday captured him walking down the street in casual blue jeans and a gray t-shirt although his appearance showed signs of Frailty Bruce seemed to be in good spirits which is a positive sign for both him and his family his appearance is a testament to his continued resilience despite his health challenges this public outing followed Bruce's announcement of his retirement from acting due to Aphasia the condition has had a significant impact on his ability to communicate making it necessary for him to step away from his career earlier this week Bruce's wife Emma Heming Willis who was 44 revealed that coping with Bruce's illness has been an incredibly difficult experience for her she described her grief as paralyzing reflecting the profound emotional toll that Bruce's Health has taken on the family we hope you enjoyed this video stay tuned for more