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Bruce Willis suffers as dementia worsens: 70-yr-old Die Hard actor can now no longer speak or read, has trouble walking

Bruce Willis suffers as dementia worsens: 70-yr-old Die Hard actor can now no longer speak or read, has trouble walking

Time of India4 days ago
Hollywood icon Bruce Willis, known for redefining the action hero, is now quietly battling a devastating reality, he can no longer speak, read, or walk. At 70, the beloved Die Hard star's condition has worsened significantly due to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure.
Bruce Willis' FTD progresses
The deterioration began in 2022 when Willis retired from acting after a diagnosis of aphasia. By early 2023, the underlying cause was revealed to be FTD, a cruel disorder that robs people of communication, behaviour, and eventually motor functions. Since then, Willis has faded further from public life, now relying entirely on his family for care.
Bruce Willis' family is by his side
Throughout this painful decline, Willis' blended family has remained his strongest support. His wife Emma Heming Willis, ex-wife Demi Moore, and five daughters, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, and Evelyn, continue to care for him together. Their rare but intimate social media posts show a man still deeply loved, even as his abilities diminish.
In May 2025, Emma described how the family had received a diagnosis but no direction. She recalled being sent away with "no hope, no guidance, no nothing," and having to piece together care plans on her own. Her honesty has made her a quiet but powerful voice in dementia caregiving advocacy.
Rather than clinical updates, family tributes in 2025 focus on joy, presence, and small gestures. Tallulah shares affectionate throwbacks, while Demi's birthday and Father's Day posts speak of love that endures beyond words. The message is clear: Bruce may be slipping away physically, but emotionally, he is still very much present.
How Bruce Willis story is raising awareness about FTD
Despite his condition, Willis' legacy remains firmly intact. From Moonlighting to The Sixth Sense, Pulp Fiction to Unbreakable, his four-decade-long career continues to influence action cinema. While Assassin and Detective Knight: Independence marked his final on-screen roles, his family has become the voice of his final chapter.
Though there is no treatment breakthrough as of mid-2025, Bruce's story is doing something powerful, it is raising awareness. His family's transparency is spotlighting the brutal realities of FTD and the emotional labour of caregiving. It is no longer just about a movie star's illness; it is about human dignity, and fighting to preserve it.
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Bruce Willis' net worth, family, and future: Who controls his $250 million fortune during dementia care?
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Bruce Willis' net worth, family, and future: Who controls his $250 million fortune during dementia care?

Hollywood legend Bruce Willis' health is said to have taken a serious downturn, according to fresh reports. The 70-year-old actor, who was diagnosed with aphasia in 2022 and later with dementia, is reportedly now unable to walk or speak. A report by The Express earlier this week claimed that Willis "is said to have become largely non-verbal and is reportedly experiencing motor difficulties, though his family has confirmed no specific details about his mobility in recent months." The update also stated that the former action star is struggling to recall his days in Hollywood due to the progression of the disease. In a rare public statement issued in April 2025, Willis' family had reassured fans that although the illness is degenerative, his condition was considered stable at the time. Bruce Willis rose to fame in the late 1980s with the Die Hard series and became one of the most recognisable action stars of his generation. He also starred in box office hits like The Sixth Sense, Armageddon, and Unbreakable. At the peak of his career, Willis earned as much as $20 million per film, including for Unbreakable in 2000. It is estimated that he made over $100 million from the Die Hard franchise alone. With a combination of film salaries, royalties, endorsements, and business ventures, Willis reportedly built a net worth of around $250 million by 2019. Willis was married to actress Demi Moore from 1987 until 2000. They share three daughters — Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah — who frequently share family updates and photos of their father on social media. Since 2009, Willis has been married to model and skincare entrepreneur Emma Heming Willis. The couple have two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn. According to Finance Monthly, his estimated $250 million estate is expected to be divided among his five daughters, with Emma overseeing the trust and legal matters alongside professional advisors.

What is frontotemporal dementia that Bruce Willis is suffering from? Symptoms, treatment and more
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Hollywood star Bruce Willis, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2022, is receiving widespread attention from the netizens again after a picture of his fragile health status went viral. Bruce, 70, has become non-verbal and is reportedly experiencing motor difficulties, though no specific details about his mobility have been confirmed by his family in recent months. It comes after his daughter, Tallulah Willis, defended the decision to post controversial photos of her father, reported Daily Express US. In 2023, the actor's wife Emma, ex-wife and actress Demi Moore and his five daughters revealed in a statement that the actor has been diagnosed with a condition called frontotemporal dementia. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) includes a group of brain disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas of the brain are associated with personality, behaviour and language. Although the symptoms primarily depend on which part of the brain is affected, some people face major changes in their personalities and even become socially inappropriate by exhibiting impulsive or emotionally indifferent behaviour. Others may also lose the ability to use language properly, according to Mayo Clinic. As per the latest medical reports, there are no treatments available for FTD to cure or slow its progression. However, several healthcare professionals prescribe medicine to treat the symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic. Some antidepressants could help with behavioural symptoms such as anxietycontrol and obsessive-compulsive behaviour, whereas some antipsychotic medicines also aid in reducing the irrational nature. But these medicines must be used with caution in people with dementia. They can have serious side effects, including an increased risk of death. A patient must also seek help from pathologists and occupational therapists who help with the adjustment of speech. Walter Bruce Willis, commonly known as Bruce Willis, is a retired American actor. He is widely known for his performances in over one hundred Hollywood movies. He achieved fame after playing the lead role in the comedy-drama series Moonlighting. He later went on to gain recognition as an action hero for his portrayal of John McClane in the Die Hard franchise, released in 1988. He was married to Hollywood actor Demi Moore, who is famous for playing the lead role in the psychological thriller Substance. They got divorced, and he later married a Model, Emma Heming Willis.

Bruce Willis' Net Worth: All about Die Hard actor's USD 250 million assets and who manages them amid battle with frontotemporal dementia
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Bruce Willis' Net Worth: All about Die Hard actor's USD 250 million assets and who manages them amid battle with frontotemporal dementia

Recently, a rare update about 'Die Hard' actor Bruce Willis was shared online after his diagnosis of aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. Reports had shared that the actor has now progressed with his disease, and has gone non-verbal. Not only that, but he's also facing issues with basic motor functions as well. This has brought forth the question of who is managing all of the wealth and estate that has been accumulated by the actor as of right now? Who is in charge of Willis' assets and 250 million USD estate? As per reports shared by Celebrity Net Worth, the actor currently holds an overall net worth of 250 million USD. His acting career came to a halt three years ago when he retired after getting his diagnosis. Since then, the actor has been spending time with family and loved ones, with his wife and daughters regularly sharing updates about the 'Armageddon' actor online. His assets, however, are handled by financial advisors as he battles dementia as well as aphasia that has managed to affect the actor to the point where he reportedly no longer remembers his time in the Hollywood industry. Bruce Willis' net worth The actor has accumulated a total net worth of USD 250 million throughout his career. He managed to gain a lot of popularity for his 'Die Hard' franchise after the first film was released in 1988. His overall net worth and income come from different sources such as his film salaries, backend deals, properties, estate investments, endorsements and residuals from his past work as well. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo Some of his most well-known works include, but are not limited to, 'Pulp Fiction', '12 Monkeys', 'Armageddon ', 'The Sixth Sense ', 'Unbreakable ', as well as 'The Fifth Element'. Early on in his career, when he had made his transition to acting, the star began his journey by starring in hit series such as 'The Twilight Zone', 'Moonlighting' and 'Miami Vice' too!

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