By Aaron Miller-
Retired outstanding actor, Bruce Willis,(pictured) has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), his family announced.
The 67-year-old actor was diagnosed in March 2022 with aphasia, a condition affecting the brain which causes difficulty with language and speech, causing him to retire from acting.
The statement about the progression of his condition was signed by his current wife, Emma Heming Willis, and his former wife Demi Moore, as well as his children Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, and Evelyn said:
“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 NHS said FTD causes problems with behaviour and language and affects the front and sides of the brain.
The family said Willis had received “an outpouring of love and compassion” over the past ten months.
“Your generosity of spirit has been overwhelming, and we are tremendously grateful for it”, they said.
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Frontotemporal dementia, which is often diagnosed at a younger age than other forms of dementia, can be characterized by personality changes, speech difficulty and motor impairment. It’s the cause of 10% to 20% of all dementia diagnoses, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Born in West Germany and the son of a soldier, Willis’ acting career began in the early 1980s with roles in films like “The Verdict,” “Blind Date” and “Sunset.” In 1985, his career blossomed with his starring role opposite Cybill Shepherd in the ABC series “Moonlighting” and his iconic performance as action star John McClane in 1988’s “Die Hard.” In addition to starring in four “Die Hard” sequels, he’s had memorable turns in “Pulp Fiction,” “12 Monkeys,” “The Fifth Element,” “The Sixth Sense,” “Armageddon” and many others
During four decades of acting, Willis’ movies have grossed more than $5 billion around the world. He is worth an estimated $255m and has been nominated for five Golden Globes (winning one for “Moonlighting”) and three Emmys (winning one for “Moonlighting” and another for his “Friends” guest role). In the last several years, he’s only appeared in an assortment of direct-to-video movies. His last major film role was in 2019’s “Motherless Brooklyn” and the M. Night Shyamalan movie “Glass.”