Bruce Willis Diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia

In an Instagram post, Willis’ family shared an update on the actor’s condition, as well as sharing their thanks for fan’s support.

The family of Bruce Willis gave the Die Hard stars fans and followers an update on his condition. Since retiring from acting last year after being diagnosed with aphasia, Willis’ condition has now progressed, and he has now been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. Daughter Rumer shared the update on her Instagram account, along with a picture of a smiling Bruce on the beach. Her post read:

“Our family wanted to start by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce’s original diagnosis. In the spirit of that, we wanted to give you an update about our beloved husband, father and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing.

Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD). Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”

The post was accompanied by a link to a longer statement, and in that, the family continued:

“Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately. We know in our hearts that – if he could today — he would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families.

Bruce has always found joy in life – and has helped everyone he knows to do the same. It has meant the world to see that sense of care echoed back to him and to all of us. We have been so moved by the love you have all shared for our dear husband, father, and friend during this difficult time. Your continued compassion, understanding, and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible.”

Related: The Most Essential Bruce Willis Moments in Movies, Ranked

Bruce Willis’ Final Movies Are Still Being Released

Despite it being almost a year since the shock announcement was made that Bruce Willis would be stepping away from his career after being diagnosed with aphasia, the final movies that he produced, more than twenty in the space of two years, are still being released now.

The latest of these films is Assassin, which just released its trailer last week and will be released in March. His expansive final run of films has included three Detective Knight movies, Fortress and its sequel, and Paradise City, where he co-starred with John Travolta. While the movies have not received the most outstanding reviews from critics, the sheer volume of work that Willis put out in the final two years of his career is unbelievable, considering his condition. Furthermore, Willis’ final movies have all delivered plenty of action that his fans love.