Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, before being additionally diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The news shocked the world as his family put on a united front.
His wife Emma Heming Willis admitted in an Instagram post at the time that while the situation was “painful”, it was “a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis”.
She also described her husband, who she has been married to since 2009, as “our beloved husband, father and friend”.
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She shares two children with the star, who is also father to daughter Rumer Willis, 36, Tallulah Willis, 30, and Scout LaRue Willis, 33, who he shares with ex-wife Demi Moore.
In March 2022, his family shared a heartbreaking statement saying that the actor, 69, was quitting Hollywood and “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,” they said.
“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.
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“As Bruce always says, ‘live it up’ and together we plan to do just that.”
Ever since, his united family have rallied around the star, who is known for films including Die Hard and The Sixth Sense.
And it’s clear just how close they all are – and the incredible mark Bruce has left on his daughters as the family patriarch.
‘Our favourite girl dad’
In June, as America celebrated Father’s Day, so too did Bruce’s girls.
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Rumer shared a gorgeous black and white flashback photo of her and her dad, captioning it: “Just cause every day we should celebrate Father’s Day for you papa.”
Moore, who in the years since their split has remained close to Bruce, also shared a tribute to him for Father’s Day this year.
She wrote underneath a collage of snaps “Happy Father’s Day to our favorite girl dad. We love you, BW!”
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Last year, Rumer shared a rather poignant post about her father and wrote underneath a throwback photo of them together, “Really missing my papa today.”
The My Divorce Party star recently told Fox News Digital the family often share updates on Bruce to perhaps give others hope if they’re going through the same thing.
“I think, for me, through this experience, what’s been so incredible is my dad is so beloved, and that’s been so evident in the transparency with which we’ve been sharing,” she said.
“And I think if there’s any way sharing our experience brings hope – whatever comes forward as a family – that can have an effect and bring any sort of hope, comfort to someone else experiencing that, then to me, that’s … everything.”
In November, Tallulah shared a touching tribute to her father amid his battle, and some sweet images of herself with her dad, saying she is “proud” to be his daughter.
“Damn, these photos are hitting tonight. Youre [sic] my whole damn heart and Im [sic] so proud to be your Tallulah Belle Bruce Willis,” she wrote in her post.
She previously said on on The Drew Barrymore Show: “He has a really aggressive cognitive disease, a form of dementia that’s very rare.”
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“He is the same, which I think, in this regard, I’ve learned is the best thing you can ask for.”
‘My favourite job is being a father’
Fatherhood is an incredibly special role for Bruce.
In a 2013 interview with Collider, he spoke about fatherhood and how it was his favourite role yet.
“It’s my favourite job. My favourite job is being a father,” he said.
“I still do the dumbest things in the world to make them laugh.”
The actor said he wanted his girls to grow up to be “women that have good morals and good intentions and are nice people and are kind” – and he most certainly achieved that.
Dementia Australia Support: 1800 699 799
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