Bruce Willis Has ‘Challenges Communicating’ In Dementia Battle, Daughter Tallulah Says

Die Hard actor Bruce Willis’ daughter, Tallulah Willis, has given updates on her famous father’s dementia.

His family revealed Willis’ diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia in February 2023.

The National Institute of Health classifies frontotemporal dementia as the result of damaged neurons in areas of the brain. Symptoms of the disease include trouble walking and speaking and an abundance of other emotional irregularities and problems. A progressive disease, the effects of frontotemporal dementia are known to gradually grow worse with time. People diagnosed typically live between six and eight years longer, if not less.

In November 2023, Tallulah called the disease “rare” and “really aggressive.”

Tallulah explained that despite her busy schedule, she makes an effort to visit her dad and “spend some time with him.” However, Tallulah acknowledged that on visits to her father, she has to mentally prepare herself to accept their interaction for what it is on the day. She explained to People it’s important, “to go into it open to what the visit is, and knowing that before I go in, I’m solid. I’m okay… I’ve done what I need to do to make sure that I can just be present.”

She shared of Willis’ condition, “[He is] doing the same in terms of the last we kind of updated, which I’m told is good.” 

She affirmed, “But whatever kind of day it is, my family and I meet him where he’s at.”

In the spring of 2022, the family announced Willis had been diagnosed with aphasia. When his dementia diagnosis was released in 2023, they explained in a statement, “Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, finally having a clear diagnosis is a relief.”