Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis says the actor’s “language is going” as his frontotemporal dementia progresses, adding that while he remains physically healthy and mobile, his brain function has declined and the family has adapted how they communicate.
The remarks came during a televised conversation with Diane Sawyer tied to a special that begins streaming August 27 on Hulu and Disney+, where Heming Willis described fleeting “spark” moments—his laugh, a twinkle in his eye—that still break through.
She also said the family made the difficult decision to relocate Willis to a quieter, single-story home staffed with professional caregivers to better meet his needs and give their daughters a more stable environment, calling it one of the hardest choices she has faced.
Willis, 70, stepped away from acting in 2022 after a diagnosis of aphasia, and the family disclosed in 2023 that doctors had identified frontotemporal dementia, a form of early-onset dementia that can affect behavior and language.
Medical guidance notes that primary progressive aphasia—often linked to frontotemporal disease—can gradually erode a person’s ability to speak, write, and eventually understand language, even as mobility or other health measures appear intact. Heming Willis emphasized that recognition and connection remain: she believes he still lights up around her and their blended family of five daughters, even if conversational exchange is limited.
She has used her platform to advocate for caregivers and for earlier diagnosis, urging families to seek support and participate in research when possible. Her caregiving book, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, is slated for publication on September 9.
