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Up there as one of the most well-known actors of his generation, Bruce Willis secured his status as Hollywood elite many years ago. From roles in cult classics such as Die Hard, Death Becomes Her, The Sixth Sense and Pulp Fiction, to a recurring cameo as the formidable Paul Stevens in Friends, his existing body of work pretty much speaks for itself. Behind the scenes, however, Willis was battling his own personal demons.
Revealing that Willis has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that results from damage to the parts of the brain responsible for language, his family confirmed that he will be retiring from acting to prioritise his health. Each sharing the same joint statement and photo across their social media accounts, Bruce’s wife, Emma, his ex-wife Demi, and three of his five children, Tallulah, Rumer and Scout, were the first to break the news.
“To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,” the statement begins. “As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.
“This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him.
“As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up’ and together we plan to do just that.”
Appearing in approximately 100 films across his four-decade-long career – eight of which were released last year alone – Willis’ absence will be a huge loss both to the entertainment industry and to the fans who have loved him for so long. Flooding the comments section with words of support, people were quick to send their well-wishes.
“The love your family has for each other and those in your orbit is complete, soulful and eternal… trust me, I’ve experienced it, and it gives me joy to know that Bruce is basking in the magic that is the Willis tribe,” wrote one family friend. Willis’ Expendables co-star Sylvester Stallone also shared his own tribute, writing, “We go back a long way, praying for the best for you and your wonderful family.”
Extremely grateful to the public for their kindness, Bruce’s daughter, Tallulah, said that she’s been blown away by the “exquisite outpouring of love” she’s received in the wake of the news. “Thank you all for showing up with so much tenderness and stunning love for my daddio and my whole family,” she wrote on Instagram, alongside another smiling photo of Bruce.