Bruce Willis’ Wife Opens Up About His Dementia Battle: “We Live in a Constant State of Grief”

Bruce Willis’ family continues to learn how to live with his devastating diagnosis. The actor’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, has revealed that they are living in a “constant state of grief” as they care for the 71-year-old star, who has frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

“It’s incredibly difficult and painful,” the 50-year-old Emma told Hello! magazine.

“It’s natural — we all want our loved ones to be healthy, full of life and to remain the people they have always been. But FTD is a devastating disease that very slowly takes everything away from you,” she admitted.

Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in February 2023, about a year after his family announced that the actor was stepping away from acting.

According to Emma, there is still a “huge lack of information” surrounding dementia. She is particularly struck by the fact that people regularly ask whether Bruce remembers her. “My answer is always an unequivocal yes. Bruce does not have Alzheimer’s disease. He has frontotemporal dementia, which affects a completely different part of the brain,” she explained.

“I wish journalists would take the time to understand the different types of dementia and learn to report on them accurately, educating the public rather than fueling fear and stigma,” she said.

Emma also spoke about Bruce’s five daughters, who continue to support their father throughout his journey with the disease.

“Each of them has created their own unique bond with him. It’s incredible because all five of them are completely different, but they have one thing in common: Bruce has always been an incredibly dependable and consistently present person in their lives,” Emma said.

The latest confirmation of that special bond came in August, when Tallulah married Justin Acee. Bruce attended his daughter’s wedding and was photographed with her in one of the most touching moments of the celebration.

In the black-and-white photograph published by Vogue, the actor embraces Tallulah with one arm while holding her husband’s hand with the other. Tallulah gently leans against her father’s shoulder. “A tender moment with my dad Bruce Willis and Justin at the beginning of the wedding weekend,” Tallulah captioned the photo.