Akin to wife Emma Heming Willis and ex-wife Demi Moore, Bruce Willis‘ daughters regularly share updates about their father’s health following his dementia diagnosis, which his family went public with in 2023.
And now Rumer Willis, who the Die Hard actor shares with the Ghost alum, alongside daughters Scout and Tallulah, has opened up about her father’s condition once again, reflecting on how the devastating diagnosis has changed both him and their relationship…
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Rumer Willis Updates Fans On Dad Bruce Willis' Health
The Sixth Sense star, 71, was first diagnosed with aphasia in 2022 before his family later revealed that his condition had progressed to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a progressive neurological disease that affects behavior, communication, and personality.
Since stepping away from acting, he has largely remained out of the spotlight and spends most of his time with his family. He currently lives in a separate, specially equipped one-story home near his loved ones in Los Angeles – a decision his wife previously admitted did not come lightly for the family.
Rumer regularly keeps fans updated on social media, but this latest insight came during an appearance on The Inside Edit with Maeve Reilly. Although Rumer admitted that spending time with her father is very "different" now, she explained that the experience has also revealed a softer side to him that she hadn't fully seen before…
Rumer Willis Describes A 'Sweetness' And 'Tenderness' She Hadn't Seen Before
"I'm so grateful that I get to go see him. Even though our time together, it's different now, I'm so grateful. There's a sweetness," she told Reilly.
The 37-year-old went on to explain that the condition seems to have stripped away some of the tough, action-hero persona the public had long associated with her father, allowing a more tender side of him to come through.
"He's always been this kind of macho dude and there's such a – fragile is not the right word – but just a tenderness that maybe being Bruce Willis might not have allowed him in a certain way," she continued.
"And I'm so grateful for how our family has kind of rallied together in this way," she went on. "And you know, we don't do it perfectly, but we're always striving to continue to create connection and find ways to be with each other and support each other through something that is kind of unprecedented."
Despite the heartbreaking progression of the disease, Rumer also emphasized the emotional connection she still feels with her father. "Whether he recognizes me or not, he can feel the love I've given him," she added.
Rumer then reflected on how little she previously knew about frontotemporal dementia and how many families are affected by it. She said she had "had no idea" how prevalent the disease was, adding: "It's wild to me. So many people come up to me now and they say, 'My uncle had FTD. My dad had this.'"
