Celebrated Hollywood actor no longer remembers being famous
The star of the Die Hard movie franchise was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023, and sources close to him say he can hardly recall being famous.
Best known for his roles in Die Hard (1988, 1990, 1995, 2007, 2013), the seminal Pulp Fiction (1994), and The Sixth Sense (1999), Willis has been battling this progressive brain disorder as best he can.
It has taken its toll. His friends and family said he can no longer speak, read or walk independently. He had initially taken a step back from acting and retired in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that impairs communication.
His last film, Assassin (2022) , saw him appear alongside South Africa's Nomzamo Mbatha.
Reports suggest that he has no recollection of the global impact his career had. Glenn Gordon Caron, creator of Moonlighting (1985-1989), the series that propelled Willis' career, shared that while the 70-year-old is still visibly the person we all came to know through our screens, his vibrancy has dissipated. His sharp sense of wit has been blunted.
'The joie de vivre is gone,' Caron explained.
Willis remains very close with his family and is being supported by them. His wife, Emma Heming Willis, and ex-wife Demi Moore, along with his five daughters, are his primary caregivers and protectors. They have used their celebrity to shed light on the effects of this crippling ailment. They have urged compassion and understanding when it comes to dealing with people who have FTD.
Despite the devastating nature of this disease, Willis created a career which will see his efforts be celebrated for years to come. His breakout role in Moonlighting saw him attain both a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe for his performance as David Addison Jr in the hit TV series.
His portrayal of John McClane in the vaunted action franchise that defined his career raked in $1.4 billion (R24 billion). At one point, he was the eighth highest-grossing actor in North America. His work on The Sixth Sense contributed to the film earning six nominations at the Academy Awards.
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