Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming Willis says 'caretakers need care' amid Gene Hackman death

USA Today

12-03-2025

Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming Willis is advocating for caretakers after the death of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa.
The actress and co-founder of Make Time Wellness, 46, took to Instagram on Monday to speak out about the "tragic passing" of Hackman and Arakawa, captioning the post "Caregivers need care too. Period. Full stop. #supportcaregivers."
"It's just made me think of this broader story, and that is that caregivers need care too and that they are vital, and that it is so important that we show up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person," Heming Willis said.
Hackman and Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home late last month and investigators announced Friday that they believe Hackman was alive in their residence for around a week after his wife died.
Arakawa, 65, died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease that is contracted by contact with mouse droppings. According to the CDC, Hantaviruses "are spread mainly by rodents and are not spread from person-to-person."
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Hackman, 95, had heart disease and complications caused by Alzheimer's disease and died from natural causes.
Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa cause of death released
"I think that there's this common misconception that like caregivers, they got it figured out," Heming Willis added. "They got it covered. They're good. I don't subscribe to that. I think that we need to be showing up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person."
Heming and Willis share daughters Mabel Ray and Evelyn Penn. Willis also has three daughters − Rumer, Scout and Tallulah with ex-wife Demi Moore.
Emma Heming Willis is a Hollywood advocate for caretakers
Since her husband's 2023 dementia diagnosis, Heming has emerged as an outspoken advocate for caretakers despite her reserved nature.
In August of that year, Heming used an Instagram video as a "care partner PSA" to find solace with other caretakers going through similar struggles.
"I'm asking care partners to send me photos because I just think it's so important for us to sort of break up our thinking, which can feel, for me, very much like doom and gloom," Heming said in the video. "So, I know it looks like I'm out living my best life. I have to make a conscious effort every single day to live the best life that I can."
"I don't want it to be misconstrued that like, I'm good, 'cause I'm not. I'm not good," Heming continued.
"But I have to put my best foot forward for the sake of myself and my family because again, when we are not looking after ourselves, we cannot look after anyone that we love."
Contributing: Edward Segarra