Latest news with #TheUnexpectedJourney
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bruce Willis' Quiet Struggle With Dementia During His Final Acting Days Revealed In Wife's New Memoir
Emma Heming Willis' upcoming memoir, "The Unexpected Journey," gives insight into Bruce Willis' battle with frontotemporal dementia. The book reveals how the movie star managed to act during the early stage of his dementia struggle, with behind-the-scenes support, including reduced dialogue and an earpiece feeding him lines. Bruce Willis's health decline was first publicly acknowledged in 2022 with aphasia, later diagnosed as FTD, leading to his retirement. In her forthcoming memoir "The Unexpected Journey," set for release on September 9, 2025, Heming opens up for the first time about her husband Willis' quiet but determined fight to keep working as his health began to decline. In the book, Heming recalled how the legendary "Die Hard" actor spent his last few years in Hollywood navigating the early signs of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and how filmmakers and close friends worked behind the scenes to support him as symptoms started to interfere with his performance. According to excerpts cited by The Daily Beast, directors began tailoring scripts to reduce Willis' dialogue. A longtime friend was even brought in to feed him lines discreetly through an earpiece during production. These quiet accommodations enabled Willis to continue acting in films like "Assassin" (2023) and the "Detective Knight trilogy" (2022–2023) without alerting audiences to the challenges he was facing. Taking to Instagram, Heming shared the deeper purpose behind her upcoming book, "The Unexpected Journey." She explained that the memoir was born out of her own experience navigating her husband Willis' diagnosis, and her desire to offer support to others facing similar challenges. "I really wrote the book that I wish someone had handed me the day we got our diagnosis with no hope, no direction … not much," she shared. "Today, life looks different for me and our family because I was able to put support into place." Heming emphasized that the book "isn't a memoir, it's a self-help guide for caregivers, written to hold space for our heartbreak and our healing." In the comment section of Heming's post, fans praised her for creating the book due to the valuable resources it contains, especially for family members of individuals with dementia. One user wrote: "I can't wait to read this! I am just starting my journey of caregiving for my husband with BvFTD. You're an inspiration." Another said, "I cannot wait to read. Thank you for writing this. When my mom was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia, I almost had a nervous breakdown from just the fear of what my caregiver journey would be." They added, "I had no guidance or support and didn't know where to turn. Your book will help so many. Sending you thanks and prayers to you and Bruce, and your family." Prior to Heming's memoir, a 2022 Los Angeles Times investigation had shed light on the cognitive challenges Willis was quietly facing on film sets before his official retirement. In the final three years of his acting career, Willis starred in 22 low-budget action movies, and as the cameras rolled, those around him began to notice unsettling changes. Once known for his sharp delivery and commanding presence, Willis had become noticeably disoriented. He relied heavily on an earpiece to be fed his lines and at times struggled to stay oriented, occasionally forgetting the context of the scene, or even why he was on set. Director Jesse V. Johnson, who worked with Willis on "White Elephant" and had known him from earlier in his stuntman days, recalled the shift. "It was clear that he was not the Bruce I remembered," he said, per the Daily Mail. Johnson recounted a moment during filming when Willis turned to the crew and said, "I know why you're here, and I know why you're here, but why am I here?" To ease the pressure on the star, the production team was advised to wrap up all of Willis' scenes before lunchtime. Willis' health struggles were finally made public in 2022, when his family shared he had been diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that impairs communication and language. As reported by The Blast, in early 2023, the actor's diagnosis was updated to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a progressive neurological condition that affects behavior, cognition, and speech. Following the news, Willis officially retired from acting, stepping away from the spotlight to focus on his health and spend time with loved ones. While he now lives largely out of the public eye, his wife Heming and their daughters occasionally share meaningful updates with fans.
Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bruce Willis' wife shares how he continued acting after dementia diagnosis
Bruce Willis' family have rallied around him since the Die Hard actor was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in February 2023, and his wife has now opened up about his work Bruce Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, is shedding light on how the Hollywood icon managed to continue working on set even after his health started deteriorating because of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). In her upcoming book The Unexpected Journey, which is set to be released on September 9, 2025, Emma shares intimate details about the measures that were taken to keep Bruce in front of the camera while his cognitive abilities declined. According to reports, some of the tactics directors used included shortening his dialogue and feeding him lines via an earpiece, which was discreetly operated by a close friend on set. These behind-the-scenes accommodations allowed the Die Hard legend to complete roles in films like Assassin (2023) and the Detective Knight trilogy (2022–2023), even though he was being increasingly impacted by FTD, which is a degenerative disease that affects cognition and speech Willis's diagnosis was first made public in 2022 when his family announced he was suffering from a language disorder called aphasia. In February 2023, they confirmed the condition had progressed into FTD. Since then, Bruce has stepped away from acting. Emma told fans on Instagram that she wrote her book to help other families facing similar situations. She shared: "I really wrote the book that I wish someone had handed me the day we got our diagnosis with no hope, no direction … not much. Today life looks different for me and our family because I was able to put support into place. "This isn't a memoir, it's a self-help guide for caregivers, written to hold space for our heartbreak and our healing." During Bruce's final years of working, directors began to alter his roles so that he would be able to make it through shooting. In a 2020 email, Out of Death director Mike Burns asked writers to "abbreviate his [Willis'] dialogue so that there are no monologues". The actor's shooting schedules were also adjusted so that his workdays were limited to four hours when possible, and he did not film for more than two consecutive days. On set, crew members noticed that Bruce seemed confused and often struggled to remember lines or his purpose in a scene. They were particularly troubled by one moment during White Elephant, when he reportedly asked, "I know why you're here, and I know why you're here, but why am I here?" Despite the challenges, some collaborators still held high opinions of his work. Paradise City director Chuck Russell praised Bruce's efforts, saying he "brought his A-game". But others, like White Elephant production supervisor Terri Martin, said, "He just looked so lost… He always tried his best." Emma has reflected on the early days of Bruce's condition developing, sharing: "As his language started changing, it [seemed like it] was just a part of a stutter, it was just Bruce. Never in a million years would I think it would be a form of dementia for someone so young." Bruce's children have opened up about the emotional effect his diagnosis had on them, with his daughter Tallulah in particular admitting the seriousness of his situation hit home to her when she imagined her wedding day and realised her father would no longer be able to deliver a speech. "It was devastating," she sighed. "I left the dinner table, stepped outside, and wept in the bushes." Despite that heart breaking realisation, Tallulah added: "There's painful days, but there's so much love."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bruce Willis ‘found ways to soldier on with acting' amid frontotemporal dementia diagnosis
Bruce Willis was working with directors to continue acting before his diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) was made public, his wife, Emma Heming Willis, reportedly claims in her forthcoming book. In March 2022, Willis's family announced that the actor had been diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder, and would be stepping away from acting as the condition was 'impacting his cognitive abilities'. Nearly a year later, in February 2023, the family provided a more specific diagnosis: FTD, a degenerative brain condition that impacts communication and behavior. The family described FTD as a 'cruel disease' for which there is no cure. However, reports that Heming Willis's book The Unexpected Journey, which she describes as being 'not a memoir but under the category of self-help', will reveal how the actor continued to work despite his condition. 'Before making his condition public, Willis had found ways to soldier on with his acting, having directors scale down his dialogue and getting a trusted friend to feed him his lines through an earpiece on films such as Assassin and the Detective Knight series,' the Australian news site claims. The Independent has contacted representatives for Harding Willis, Willis and Lionsgate for comment. Assassin (2023) and the Detective Knight series (2022-23) were among Bruce's final projects before his retirement from acting. The news site points out that Willis's deterioration wasn't immediately obvious because of the stutter he'd suffered from since childhood. 'It's how I got my sense of humour, because I realised, yeah I stutter, but I could make people laugh by doing stupid stuff,' he once told interviewer Michael Parkinson. Willis first married actor Demi Moore in 1987, and shares three daughters with the actor: Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah. The couple divorced in 2000 but remained close friends and continue to spend time together with their blended families. In 2009, Bruce married British-American model and actor Heming Willis, with whom he shares two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn. Revealing her book's cover on Instagram in April, Heming Willis wrote: 'Born from grief, shaped by love, and guided by purpose, this is the book I needed back when Bruce was first diagnosed and I was frozen with fear and uncertainty. 'This is the book I trust will help the next caregiver. It is filled with support, insight, and the hope needed to navigate this journey. 'This book is for all of us finding our way through the unknown with love, grit, and courage. You are not alone.' The Unexpected Journey is out September 9.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bruce Willis 'Found Secret Ways Of Working Through Degenerative Illness,' Wife Reveals In Book
Bruce Willis found ways to continue to work and appear on screen through the beginning of his degenerative illness, his wife has revealed in her forthcoming book. Australian au website reports that Willis's plan to continue working as long as he was able will be detailed in Emma Heming Willis's upcoming book – one she calls 'not a memoir but under the category of self-help' – The Unexpected Journey, due for release in September. More from Deadline Bill Murray Recalls Poignant Moment With Old Friend Bruce Willis On 'Watch What Happens Live' Samuel L. Jackson Reveals Invaluable Advice He Received From Bruce Willis During 'Die Hard With A Vengeance' Shoot Haley Joel Osment Recalls Bruce Willis Would Call "Out Of The Blue" Years After 'Sixth Sense' The Die Hard star announced in February 2023 that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. He had retreated from the spotlight a year earlier due to his deteriorating health. However, according to Heming Willis's book will reveal that her action hero husband had found ways to continue to work on films such as Assassin (2023) and the Detective Knight series (2022-23), having directors reduce his dialogue and employing a trusted friend to feed him lines through an earpiece. The website adds that the actor's deterioration wasn't immediately apparently either on set or on screen, because Willis had always had a slow speech pattern, after having a stutter as a child – something he once told interviewer Michael Parkinson he was able to put to good effect: 'It's how I got my sense of humour, because I realised, yeah I stutter, but I could make people laugh by doing stupid stuff.' Heming Willis shared on Instagram that she had written the book to help others facing her husband's condition, as well as their families. She said: 'I really wrote the book that I wish someone had handed me the day we got our diagnosis with no hope, no direction … not much. Today life looks different for me and our family because I was able to put support into place.' As well as his successful turns in the Die Hard franchise, Willis has enjoyed a string of hit films including Look Who's Talking, The Sixth Sense and Death Becomes Her. He had his breakthrough success in early 1980s TV series Moonlighting, co-starring with Cybil Shepherd as private detectives David Addison and Maddie Hayes. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series
Fox News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Bruce Willis' wife felt 'lost and isolated' caring for him after devastating dementia diagnosis
Emma Heming Willis' life was forever changed the moment her beloved husband, Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2022. While speaking at the Women's Alzheimer's Movement Forum in Las Vegas on Monday, the mom of two opened up about the isolating moment that inspired her upcoming book, "The Unexpected Journey." "On the day Bruce got his diagnosis, we left the doctor's office with a pamphlet and a hollow goodbye. No plan, no guidance, no hope, just shock," she told the crowd during the forum, per People. "The future we imagined simply vanished, and I was left trying to hold my family together, raise our two young daughters, and care for the man I love while navigating a disease I barely understood." In March 2022, it was announced that Willis would be "stepping away" from his acting career due to an aphasia diagnosis. It was later announced that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. "I felt lost, isolated and scared," Heming Willis, who was being honored for her advocacy for caregiving, said. "What I needed in that moment at that appointment wasn't just medical information. I needed someone to look me in the eye and say, 'This feels impossible right now, but you will find your footing. You will survive this and you will grow because of it.'" The author will release her book this September. "The book is the roadmap I wish someone had handed me on the day in 2022," she said. "I wrote it for other caregivers who are desperate for answers, aching for support, and wanting to be seen and wondering how they're going to make it through." "I've had access to world-class experts because of who Bruce is, and I know that's a privilege, so I didn't want to keep that information to myself… I have a megaphone and resources that others don't." In April, Heming Willis - who shares daughters Mabel Ray Willis, 13, and Evelyn Penn Willis, 11 - unveiled the cover of her book on social media and gave followers a glimpse of what life has been like since her husband's diagnosis. "Born from grief, shaped by love, and guided by purpose, this is the book I needed back when Bruce was first diagnosed, and I was frozen with fear and uncertainty," she penned on Instagram about the book. "This is the book I trust will help the next caregiver. It is filled with support, insight, and the hope needed to navigate this journey." The author shared a sweet black-and-white photograph of her and Bruce on the book cover, as she longingly looked at her husband with all smiles. "I wrote the book I wish someone had placed in my hands the day we got the diagnosis," her second photo on Instagram read. "This book is for all of us finding our way through the unknown with love, grit, and courage. You are not alone." During the forum, Heming Willis also stressed the importance of caring for caretakers. "We should be talking about this so much more because at some point, we will be caring for someone that we love, or we might need care ourselves. So this is a really important conversation that hopefully, one day, the government will take seriously."
