Latest news with #TheUnexpectedJourney
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Bruce Willis' wife Emma shares heartbreaking update that left her 'crying'
Emma Heming Willis took to social media to share an update with her followers about her book which gives a personal look into life as a caregiver for someone living with dementia offering support to others in the same situation. Bruce Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis is currently navigating an deeply personal and emotional journey in her life and this week she opened up candidly with her 994,000 Instagram followers. In a heartfelt post, Emma shared two intimate photos from inside a recording booth. One was a behind-the-scenes selfie of her wearing headphones sitting behind a mic, and the other showed the digital cover of her book, the Unexpected Journey. Her book is a guide for care givers of loved one diagnosed with dementia, drawing on her own experience caring for her husband, Bruce, who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia - offering her own support and a message for hope for others in her situation. Alongside the snaps was a lengthy caption, in which she spoke about the process of making an audio version of her book and just how emotional it was, the Mirror US reports. She revealed that narrating her own story out loud has stirred up strong waves of emotion, as she wrote: "Day 1 of 4 in the recording booth for The Unexpected Journey complete [check emoji]. I've lived with these words in my head for so long, and today I spoke them out loud for the very first time.' "I could hardly get through page 1, the dedication page without crying," Emma continued. She went on to share that, as she read, one recurring thought kept coming to mind. 'And as I continued reading, one thought kept circling in the back of my mind… I can't believe this is the subject I've had to become an expert on,' Emma stated. 'It's heartbreaking. And yet I'm so grateful to share what I've learned in the hope that it supports another caregiver on their journey,' she concluded with heartfelt emotion. Countless fans of Emma and her husband Bruce flocked to the comment section to praise her audiobook and applaud her for reaching her goals. One fan wrote: "I love that you're recording your words! My mom lost her words because of her frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and it encourages me to use my voice!' Another added: "Thank you! Best of luck and you've got support behind you strengthening your voice." While a third gave their congratulations, penning: 'I feel your words wholeheartedly. Congratulations!! thank you for showing up and all you do for the community.' A fourth admirer enthusiastically wrote: "Wow, Emma! You continue to uncover goodness and growth beyond the horizon of the unexpected journey. I steadfastly remain in awe and so proud of you!' Another follower shared a moving message of support, writing: "You are an inspiration Emma. Through your pain and sadness you have brought hope and guidance. It's heartbreaking that your wonderful husband has had to be diagnosed with this horrible disease, but from that this amazing book has been created. Proud of you." Bruce was first diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, and in 2023, his family shared that his condition had advanced to frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Since the diagnosis, Emma has remained a steadfast source of strength and support for Bruce, standing by his side along with his daughters Rumer, Scout and Tallulah.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bruce Willis' Wife ‘Feeling Some Trepidation' Over What Lies Ahead
Emma Heming Willis is preparing for the release of her new book, The Unexpected Journey, which will be released in September. Over the next several weeks, she will be heading out to promote the book and she admits that she's feeling a bit of anxiety for this next phase. "I've been feeling some trepidation about stepping out to promote this book. Public speaking and being forward-facing don't come naturally to me," Heming Willis captioned an Instagram post on July 5. "I know it might not seem that way, but the truth is, this is me stepping way out of my comfort zone. Still, when you care deeply about something - when you know your story, tools, lived experience, and the lessons you've learned might help someone else, you speak up," she continued, adding, "Because the causes I care about are bigger than me. And the call to support others is louder than my fear. This book isn't just mine, it's for all of us walking this road." Heming Willis, 47, is the primary caregiver for Bruce Willis, 70, who has been diagnosed with frototemporal dementia. Heming Willis received a great deal of support from fans as she embarks on this next part of her book journey. "I have already ordered this book and can't wait to get it! Currently I'm not a caregiver, but want to be the best supportive friend that I can to a couple of friends who are caregivers," one person wrote. "You're an inspiration. I hope the takeaways from your book help caregivers in different communities including those dealing with disabilities," someone else said. "Good for you Emma. Get out there keep doing the right thing for the right reasons. Super proud of you and I hope your proud of yourself also," a third comment Willis' Wife 'Feeling Some Trepidation' Over What Lies Ahead first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 5, 2025
Daily Mirror
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bruce Willis' wife makes heartbreaking admission in Father's Day tribute
Hollywood icon Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming Willis has shared a heartbreaking tribute to the actor to mark Father's Day as she shared her wishes for things to be different Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming has penned a heartfelt message to mark Father's Day as she shared her pain. The Hollywood icon, 70, has taken a step away from acting and the spotlight following his frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and aphasia diagnosis. In February 2023, his family made the heartbreaking announcement the Die Hard and Pulp Fiction actor had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a rare form of the illness, at the age of 67. Prior to this, Bruce had been diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that causes speaking or the ability to understand language is impaired. Since then he has lived out of the spotlight while he is cared for by his family, including wife of 16 years Emma, ex-wife Demi Moore and the three grown up daughters he shares with Demi - Rumer, 36, Scout, 33, and 31-year-old Tallulah. He also has two younger daughters Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, 10, with Emma. To mark Father's Day, Emma shared a touching message alongside a photo of Bruce cuddling one of their little girls. She penned: "Happy Father's Day to all the dads living with disability or disease, showing up in the ways they can and to the children who show up for them. "What Bruce teaches our girls goes far beyond words. Resilience, unconditional love, and the quiet strength in simply being present. This photo says so much. Love deepens. It adapts. It stays, even when everything else changes." Emma then shared her own feelings as she added: "But to be fair to myself, these symbolic days stir up a lot. I'm profoundly sad today. I wish, with every cell in my body, that things could be different for him and lighter for our family. "As they say in our FTD community, 'It is what it is.' And while that might sound dismissive, to me, it's not. It grounds me. It helps me return to the acceptance of what is and not fight this every step of the way like I used to. Today, let's celebrate the badass dads, those who are here, and those we carry with us. Onward." Just last week, Emma revealed how Bruce continued to act despite his diagnosis. In her upcoming book The Unexpected Journey, which is set to be released on September 9, Emma shares intimate details about the measures that were taken to keep Bruce in front of the camera while his cognitive abilities declined. According to reports, some of the tactics directors used included shortening his dialogue and feeding him lines via an earpiece, which was discreetly operated by a close friend on set. These behind-the-scenes accommodations allowed the Die Hard legend to complete roles in films like Assassin (2023) and the Detective Knight trilogy (2022–2023). "I really wrote the book that I wish someone had handed me the day we got our diagnosis with no hope, no direction … not much. Today life looks different for me and our family because I was able to put support into place," she said. "This isn't a memoir, it's a self-help guide for caregivers, written to hold space for our heartbreak and our healing." If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Dementia UK.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bruce Willis' Quiet Struggle With Dementia During His Final Acting Days Revealed In Wife's New Memoir
Emma Heming Willis' upcoming memoir, "The Unexpected Journey," gives insight into Bruce Willis' battle with frontotemporal dementia. The book reveals how the movie star managed to act during the early stage of his dementia struggle, with behind-the-scenes support, including reduced dialogue and an earpiece feeding him lines. Bruce Willis's health decline was first publicly acknowledged in 2022 with aphasia, later diagnosed as FTD, leading to his retirement. In her forthcoming memoir "The Unexpected Journey," set for release on September 9, 2025, Heming opens up for the first time about her husband Willis' quiet but determined fight to keep working as his health began to decline. In the book, Heming recalled how the legendary "Die Hard" actor spent his last few years in Hollywood navigating the early signs of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and how filmmakers and close friends worked behind the scenes to support him as symptoms started to interfere with his performance. According to excerpts cited by The Daily Beast, directors began tailoring scripts to reduce Willis' dialogue. A longtime friend was even brought in to feed him lines discreetly through an earpiece during production. These quiet accommodations enabled Willis to continue acting in films like "Assassin" (2023) and the "Detective Knight trilogy" (2022–2023) without alerting audiences to the challenges he was facing. Taking to Instagram, Heming shared the deeper purpose behind her upcoming book, "The Unexpected Journey." She explained that the memoir was born out of her own experience navigating her husband Willis' diagnosis, and her desire to offer support to others facing similar challenges. "I really wrote the book that I wish someone had handed me the day we got our diagnosis with no hope, no direction … not much," she shared. "Today, life looks different for me and our family because I was able to put support into place." Heming emphasized that the book "isn't a memoir, it's a self-help guide for caregivers, written to hold space for our heartbreak and our healing." In the comment section of Heming's post, fans praised her for creating the book due to the valuable resources it contains, especially for family members of individuals with dementia. One user wrote: "I can't wait to read this! I am just starting my journey of caregiving for my husband with BvFTD. You're an inspiration." Another said, "I cannot wait to read. Thank you for writing this. When my mom was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia, I almost had a nervous breakdown from just the fear of what my caregiver journey would be." They added, "I had no guidance or support and didn't know where to turn. Your book will help so many. Sending you thanks and prayers to you and Bruce, and your family." Prior to Heming's memoir, a 2022 Los Angeles Times investigation had shed light on the cognitive challenges Willis was quietly facing on film sets before his official retirement. In the final three years of his acting career, Willis starred in 22 low-budget action movies, and as the cameras rolled, those around him began to notice unsettling changes. Once known for his sharp delivery and commanding presence, Willis had become noticeably disoriented. He relied heavily on an earpiece to be fed his lines and at times struggled to stay oriented, occasionally forgetting the context of the scene, or even why he was on set. Director Jesse V. Johnson, who worked with Willis on "White Elephant" and had known him from earlier in his stuntman days, recalled the shift. "It was clear that he was not the Bruce I remembered," he said, per the Daily Mail. Johnson recounted a moment during filming when Willis turned to the crew and said, "I know why you're here, and I know why you're here, but why am I here?" To ease the pressure on the star, the production team was advised to wrap up all of Willis' scenes before lunchtime. Willis' health struggles were finally made public in 2022, when his family shared he had been diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that impairs communication and language. As reported by The Blast, in early 2023, the actor's diagnosis was updated to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a progressive neurological condition that affects behavior, cognition, and speech. Following the news, Willis officially retired from acting, stepping away from the spotlight to focus on his health and spend time with loved ones. While he now lives largely out of the public eye, his wife Heming and their daughters occasionally share meaningful updates with fans.
Daily Mirror
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bruce Willis' wife shares how he continued acting after dementia diagnosis
Bruce Willis' family have rallied around him since the Die Hard actor was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in February 2023, and his wife has now opened up about his work Bruce Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, is shedding light on how the Hollywood icon managed to continue working on set even after his health started deteriorating because of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). In her upcoming book The Unexpected Journey, which is set to be released on September 9, 2025, Emma shares intimate details about the measures that were taken to keep Bruce in front of the camera while his cognitive abilities declined. According to reports, some of the tactics directors used included shortening his dialogue and feeding him lines via an earpiece, which was discreetly operated by a close friend on set. These behind-the-scenes accommodations allowed the Die Hard legend to complete roles in films like Assassin (2023) and the Detective Knight trilogy (2022–2023), even though he was being increasingly impacted by FTD, which is a degenerative disease that affects cognition and speech Willis's diagnosis was first made public in 2022 when his family announced he was suffering from a language disorder called aphasia. In February 2023, they confirmed the condition had progressed into FTD. Since then, Bruce has stepped away from acting. Emma told fans on Instagram that she wrote her book to help other families facing similar situations. She shared: "I really wrote the book that I wish someone had handed me the day we got our diagnosis with no hope, no direction … not much. Today life looks different for me and our family because I was able to put support into place. "This isn't a memoir, it's a self-help guide for caregivers, written to hold space for our heartbreak and our healing." During Bruce's final years of working, directors began to alter his roles so that he would be able to make it through shooting. In a 2020 email, Out of Death director Mike Burns asked writers to "abbreviate his [Willis'] dialogue so that there are no monologues". The actor's shooting schedules were also adjusted so that his workdays were limited to four hours when possible, and he did not film for more than two consecutive days. On set, crew members noticed that Bruce seemed confused and often struggled to remember lines or his purpose in a scene. They were particularly troubled by one moment during White Elephant, when he reportedly asked, "I know why you're here, and I know why you're here, but why am I here?" Despite the challenges, some collaborators still held high opinions of his work. Paradise City director Chuck Russell praised Bruce's efforts, saying he "brought his A-game". But others, like White Elephant production supervisor Terri Martin, said, "He just looked so lost… He always tried his best." Emma has reflected on the early days of Bruce's condition developing, sharing: "As his language started changing, it [seemed like it] was just a part of a stutter, it was just Bruce. Never in a million years would I think it would be a form of dementia for someone so young." Bruce's children have opened up about the emotional effect his diagnosis had on them, with his daughter Tallulah in particular admitting the seriousness of his situation hit home to her when she imagined her wedding day and realised her father would no longer be able to deliver a speech. "It was devastating," she sighed. "I left the dinner table, stepped outside, and wept in the bushes." Despite that heart breaking realisation, Tallulah added: "There's painful days, but there's so much love."
