Emma Heming Willis has opened up about her husband Bruce Willis’s worsening condition, revealing that his “brain is failing” as he steadily loses his ability to communicate. The Die Hard star, now 70, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) over three years ago. His wife, 47, is preparing to release a memoir, Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, chronicling their family’s struggles and offering guidance to others caring for loved ones with dementia.
In an interview with ABC, Emma explained: “Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall. It’s just his brain that is failing him.” She added that while his language skills are slipping, the family has adapted with new ways of communicating. FTD is a progressive, incurable brain disease that affects behavior, speech, and understanding.
Emma admitted she initially felt she had to manage everything alone, which left her drained and isolated. Now, with support, she and the family—including their two daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, as well as Bruce’s three daughters with Demi Moore—cherish the fleeting moments when his familiar “twinkle” shines through.
Bruce now lives in a nearby care residence for round-the-clock support. “It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make,” Emma said. “But I knew Bruce would want our daughters’ needs put first.”