Former Hollywood hard man Bruce Willis is now reportedly “like a baby” as a result of his years-long battle against frontotemporal dementia.
The scale of the 71-year-old’s devastating decline came just four years after his initial diagnosis with aphasia forced him to retire from acting in 2022.
Aphasia is defined as an acquired language disorder which results from damage to the parts of the brain that control speech and language processing. He was subsequently diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023, which has also left him with limited ability to communicate.
The Daily Mail reports that the Pulp Fiction star is now “living in his own world”.
A source close to Willis told the Mail that the one-time action hero, who was last seen in public a year ago, is sadly unaware of the full extent of his rapid cognitive decline.
“He knows his life is different, but he doesn’t think it is that different,” the source told The Mail.
“He doesn’t talk about it or even complain much. He senses something is off, but he doesn’t have a full grasp of it.”
The source claimed that while his physical appearance was still that of a “healthy middle-aged man”, his personality had drastically changed as opposed to his younger years “when he had a lot of energy and talked a ton.”
“Sometimes he looks like a baby who is staring at an object with curiosity, just taking it in,” the source told The Mail.
Willis is currently being cared for by his wife Emma Heming Willis, whom he married in 2009, who is also being supported in her efforts by Willis’ former wife Demi Moore, who split from the action star in 2000.
Willis has three daughters from his marriage with Moore - Rumer, Scout and Tallulah - and two more with Heming Willis - Mabel Ray and Evelyn Penn Willis.
Willis’ degenerative state is taking a toll on Heming Willis, who revealed in June mixed feelings about celebrating her 50th birthday given her husband’s struggles.
“I have not really been in the celebratory feelings of late,” Heming Willis told Hoda Kotb on her podcast Making Space.
“I always wrestle with (guilt).”
“You know, I think guilt is something that I am always carrying, but I’ve learned that it is really not helpful.”
She was undecided on whether she should celebrate her milestone birthday due to her struggles with guilt until a friend convinced her.
“I was unsure if I really wanted to do anything, but I had a friend of mine who kept sort of pushing me and saying, ‘You know what, you don’t want to miss out on your 50. You have to celebrate in some form or fashion.’
“I always go back to: what would my husband want for me?”
“And he would want me to have a big, fun bash. He would want me to celebrate my life with my friends and family. And that is sort of what I always think about when guilt of any sort comes in front of me.”
The Mail reported that Heming Willis revealed that Willis was now living separately from her in a one-storey home nearby where he received care around the clock.
She said making the decision was painful but the benefits for her husband outweighed the guilt she felt.
“Ultimately, I could get back to being his wife,” she told The Sunday Times. “And that’s such a gift.”
The Mail’s source reported that her expenditure on Willis’ care now came to more than $US30,000 a month.
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