Bruce Willis’ daughter claims Father’s Day “is hard” amid actor’s dementia diagnosis
The daughter of Bruce Willis shared an emotional tribute to the actor to mark Father’s Day, noting that it was a “hard” occasion in light of his dementia diagnosis.
Rumer Willis, the eldest daughter of Willis and Demi Moore, said on Instagram on June 15th: “Today is hard, I feel a deep ache in my chest to talk to you and tell you everything I’m doing and what’s going on in my life. To hug you and ask you about life and your stories and struggles and successes. I wish I asked you more questions while you could still tell me about it all.”
She added: “But I know you wouldn’t want me to be sad today so I’ll try to just be grateful reminding myself how lucky I am that you’re my dad and that you’re still with me and I can still hold you and hug you and kiss your cheek and rub your head I can tell you stories.”
The former Die Hard star retired from acting three years ago in 2022 after he was diagnosed with the speech disorder aphasia, following which his family announced that he had also been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023.
Willis’ daughter noted that despite her father’s array of health problems, “I will be grateful for every moment I have with you,” before she addressed her audience by saying: “Sending love to all those who are in the boat with me or have lost their fathers, to the single moms who are the dads, too.”
The actor’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, is set to release a book in September detailing her experience as her husband’s caregiver, titled An Unexpected Journey.
The importance of documenting the care she provides for the 70-year-old was pulled into even sharper focus earlier this year following the deaths of Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, as Heming Willis responded to the news by saying, “caregivers need care too.”
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.