Bruce Willis Is Stepping Away From Acting After He Was Diagnosed With Aphasia
This isn’t the type of Bruce Willis update anyone was hoping for today (for me, that would be the announcement of a 35th-anniversary re-release of Bruce’s debut album, The Return of Bruno). This is exponentially more sad and depressing. Earlier today, several members of Bruce’s family released a statement on behalf of her family, informing everyone that the 67-year-old dad and one of Hollywood’s most iconic action film stars is effectively retiring from acting, due to an aphasia diagnosis.
People magazine reports that this news was announced by most of Bruce’s family on social media, including daughters Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah Willis, as well as Bruce’s ex-wife Demi Moore, and his wife Emma Heming Willis. They all posted the same picture of Bruce working some spa day sophistication, and the same caption revealing his diagnosis and intention to retire, so to speak, from acting. They explain that the diagnosis came after Bruce was experiencing some health issues that began messing his cognitive abilities.
The message was posted by Emma, Demi, and all five of Bruce’s daughters (Mabel, 9, and Evelyn, 7, are his children with Emma). According to People’s main reference, the Mayo Clinic, aphasia is a condition that robs a person of the ability to communicate. That means all aspects of communication are messed with, like speaking, writing, and understanding language, both verbal and written. Aphasia can develop after a stroke or a brain injury, but it can also develop slowly on its own, due to a brain tumor or a progressive degenerative disease. It’s not known how Bruce’s aphasia developed, and quite frankly, that’s something that can probably stay between Hudson Hawk and his doctor.
Just because Bruce is stepping away from acting doesn’t mean he won’t be seen on screen in any new movies. Bruce busted his ass in the past couple of years and made a ton of films, nearly a dozen of which are set for release later this year and at future dates.
Plenty of people are reaching out online with good thoughts to Bruce, and just as many are noting how many incredible, iconic movies Bruce Willis was in before he announced his retirement. Seriously, you could sprain a finger while scrolling his IMDb page. It would be beyond difficult to pick a movie to watch in honor of his decades-long career. What am I saying? It will take me all of 3 seconds to settle on a double-bill of Bonfire of the Vanities and Death Becomes Her.
Bruce Willis has given us so many iconic characters and great performances across his career. Forever a legend. Wishing him all the best, and I hope he enjoys retirement. pic.twitter.com/Pof4ZwPB77
— Isaac Feldberg (@isaacfeldberg) March 30, 2022
Pic: INSTAR