Camilla Jessen
Bruce Willis’ wife gives huge dementia update.
The Die Hard star is now living in a quieter home near his family, as his wife Emma Heming Willis opens up about his condition, daily challenges, and their daughters’ new reality.
A Difficult New Chapter
Bruce Willis’ battle with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) has led his family to make one of their most emotional decisions yet: moving him into a separate home better suited to his needs.
In a new ABC News special, Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey, wife Emma Heming Willis opened up about how the actor’s care has evolved and why it was no longer possible for Bruce to remain full-time under the same roof with their two young daughters.
“It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make,” Emma admitted.
Why Bruce Moved Into a “Second Home”
Emma revealed that the move wasn’t just for Bruce, but also for their daughters, Mabel Ray, 13, and Evelyn Penn, 11.
“I knew, first and foremost, Bruce would want that for our daughters,” she said. “He would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs.”
Noise Sensitivity and Dementia
Noise sensitivity is common in dementia patients, especially those with FTD, and over time, even ordinary sounds became overwhelming for Bruce.
There were therefore no more playdates, no more sleepovers, and a growing sense of isolation.
“I didn’t know if parents would feel comfortable leaving their kid at our home,” Emma said. “I isolated our whole family, and that was by design… That was a hard time.”
Now, the family spends regular time in the “second home,” which Emma described as full of love, warmth, and support.
What Is Aphasia?
Bruce Willis, 69, was first diagnosed with aphasia in 2022 before doctors confirmed his condition had progressed to frontotemporal dementia, a degenerative brain disease with no known cure.
“His Brain Is Failing Him”
Speaking candidly, Emma told Sawyer: “Bruce is still very mobile… Bruce is in really great health, overall. It’s just his brain that is failing him.”
She explained how the family has found new ways to communicate with Bruce, even as language skills fade.
“We’ve learned to adapt. We have a way of communicating with him, which is just a different way.”
Early Signs Were “Alarming and Frightening”
Emma also spoke about the earliest red flags in Bruce’s behavior.
Once talkative and affectionate, the actor began withdrawing at family gatherings, becoming quieter and emotionally distant.
“For someone who was very talkative and very engaged, he was just a little more quiet,” she recalled. “He felt a little removed, a little cold… not like Bruce.”
Emma Sets the Record Straight
Emma has previously been outspoken against media speculation about Bruce’s condition.
In March, she pushed back on what she called “blurbs of misinformation” that claimed there was “no more joy” in her husband.
“That couldn’t be further from the truth,” she emphasized again in the new special.
And while insiders continue to describe Bruce’s decline—mentioning waning appetite, difficulty recognizing people, and the need for constant care—Emma’s message is one of love and realism:
“It is a house that is filled with love and warmth and care and laughter.”
