Emma Heming Willis is offering a glimpse into her husband Bruce Willis’ health as he continues to battle frontotemporal dementia. In a preview of the ABC special Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey, the model and author shared emotional details about the Die Hard star’s current condition.
“Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall, you know,” Emma said. “It’s just his brain that is failing him.”
The Willis family first revealed Bruce’s aphasia diagnosis in 2022, a condition that eventually progressed to frontotemporal dementia, a rare and aggressive form of cognitive decline. During the interview, Emma discussed how Bruce’s speaking ability has nearly disappeared and how the family has had to adjust in order to communicate with him.
“The language is going, and, you know, we’ve learned to adapt,” she shared. “And we have a way of communicating with him, which is just a… different way.”
Though Bruce’s condition has taken a toll, Emma spoke about the rare moments when his personality shines through, providing brief but cherished glimpses of the man she married.
“Not days, but we get moments,” she said. “It’s his laugh, right? Like, he has such a hearty laugh. And, you know, sometimes you’ll see that twinkle in his eye, or that smirk, and, you know, I just get, like, transported.”
Emma explained that while these moments are fleeting, they still hold immense value. “And it’s just hard to see, because as quickly as those moments appear, they go. It’s hard. But I’m grateful. I’m grateful that my husband is still very much here,” she said, becoming emotional.
Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis married in 2009 and share two daughters, Mabel Ray and Evelyn Penn. Bruce is also a father to Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah, his children with ex-wife Demi Moore.
The couple’s journey through this difficult time highlights the emotional toll of dementia, but also the love and strength they continue to share as they adapt to the changes in Bruce’s health.