Emma Heming Willis Talks About Bruce's Health: 'Great Overall but His Brain is Failing'

Emma Heming Willis, the wife of retired US actor Bruce Willis, has spoken for the first time publicly about how his brain is now failing him and his language is going.

The Die Hard star, 70, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia more than three years ago.

Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall, you know, she told ABC News via Good Morning America on Tuesday. It's just his brain that is failing him.

In her forthcoming book, she also advocates for fellow caregivers. The language is going, and, you know, we've learned to adapt, she added. And we have a way of communicating with him, which is just a... different way.

The Willis family revealed in 2023 that the star had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, an uncommon form of dementia that can affect behavior and language. Emma noted that she initially thought she had to shoulder the entire burden alone, which led to sleepless nights and withdrawal from social life.

She hopes her new book, titled Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, serves as a guide for other caregivers whose lives may be similarly affected by dementia.

Even as the family copes with these challenges, Emma reflected on the joyful moments they still share. Not days, but we get moments, she mentioned, referring to Bruce’s hearty laugh and visible personality flashes that remind her of the man she married in 2009. She expressed gratitude for these occasions, saying, I’m grateful that my husband is still very much here.

Emma's reflections come ahead of ABC's special, Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey, airing soon. This heartfelt discussion underlines the resilience of families grappling with severe health challenges and the importance of community support for caregivers.