Rumer Willis Shares Update On Dad Bruce Willis Amid Dementia Battle

Rumer Willis recently updated fans on her father, Bruce Willis, following his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, sharing that he is “great” and expressing her deep love for the iconic actor.

She previously opened up about his interactions with her daughter, Louetta, and emphasized the importance of transparency in sharing their family’s experience.

In March, Rumer paid tribute to her father, Bruce Willis, on his birthday, calling him “the greatest papa” ever.

During an “Ask Me Anything (AMA) Uncensored” session on her Instagram Stories on August 22, Rumer responded to a fan inquiry about her dad’s well-being.

“He is great, I love him so much. Thank you,” the actress replied warmly.

Back in May, Rumer also shared insights into Bruce’s life during an appearance on the “Today” show, particularly his interactions with her daughter, Louetta, who is 16 months old.

She fondly recalled a touching moment when Louetta, who had just started walking, approached Bruce. “She was walking over to him, and it was so sweet.”

Reflecting on her father’s enduring role as a “girl dad,” the “Striptease” actress nodded in agreement when host Hoda Kotb mentioned how those paternal instincts are resurfacing, noting: “He’s a girl dad, through and through. I saw him with my sisters, my little sisters.”

In May, Rumer spoke with Fox News about her father’s health and the importance of being open about his condition, noting that transparency can be a source of support for others facing similar challenges.

“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,” Rumer told the news outlet.

She continued, “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,”

The Willis family first disclosed that the “Die Hard” actor had been diagnosed with aphasia in March 2022.

At the time, each member of the family shared a joint statement on their Instagram pages, noting that the actor would be stepping away from his Hollywood career to be cared for by his loved ones.

The statement read in part at the time, “This is a challenging time for our family, and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support. 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.”

A year later, in February 2023, his wife, Emma Heming Willis, confirmed that his condition had progressed to frontotemporal dementia.

Emma shared a statement from the Willis family that read, “We wanted to give you an update about our beloved husband, father and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing.”

In their message, they also noted the importance of using their platform to bring more awareness to FTD.

In March, Rumer paid a heartfelt tribute to her father, Bruce, on Instagram to celebrate his birthday. She lovingly wrote, “Oh Daddio, to be loved by you is such a gift,” praising him as “the funniest, most tender, charming, out of this world silly talented and magical papa.”

“Reflecting on her bond with Bruce, Rumer added, “I am your first baby, and sometimes I wish I could be tiny enough to just cozy up on your chest again and laugh and cuddle you. I love you so deep in my bones I don’t know how my muscles hold them.”

She expressed deep gratitude for her father, saying, “You are the greatest papa I could ever hope for. Thank you for your generosity, your silliness, and heart. Lou loves you so big.” She ended her tribute with, “Happy Birthday, Daddio.”

Rumer’s sister, Scout, also honored Bruce on Instagram, describing him as a “tender, moody, beautiful, very Piscean man” in her birthday message.

During an Interview with Page Six, Glenn Gordon Caron, Bruce’s close friend, and director of his breakout series, “Moonlighting,” shared insights into the “Die Hard” actor’s condition, stating that it’s like Bruce is “seeing life through a screen door.”

Recalling his visits to the actor, Caron said he observed that Bruce recognized him in the first few minutes, but his verbal abilities have declined significantly.

“He’s not totally verbal; he used to be a voracious reader — he didn’t want anyone to know that — and he’s not reading now. All those language skills are no longer available to him, and yet he’s still Bruce,” Caron said at the time.