OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
Bruce Willis’ family continues to rally around him with love and support as he navigates his health challenges. In a recent update, his daughter, actress Rumer Willis, shared heartening news about her father’s condition. Appearing via video on the U.K. talk show Loose Women on February 3, Rumer, 36, expressed that her dad, now 69, is “doing really well” despite his ongoing battle with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
This health update comes after the family publicly revealed in 2023 that Bruce’s aphasia diagnosis had progressed to FTD, a form of dementia that primarily impacts the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes, affecting decision-making, behavior, and speech. Rumer’s positive update offers a glimpse of hope as she emphasized her father’s wellbeing in her conversation with the hosts.
“He’s doing great,” Rumer shared, offering reassurance to fans and loved ones alike. However, she also opened up about the challenges her family has faced, particularly the recent fires in California, where they reside. “We’ve been most scared dealing with the fires, wanting to make sure everything is okay,” she said, highlighting the importance of safety and family cohesion during difficult times.
The Willis family’s bond has proven to be unshakable, and Rumer’s words reflected just how much they continue to lean on each other for support. “I think, again, because my family, we’re all so close, I think what’s so beautiful is the way that we rally around each other… we really are a unit,” she remarked, underlining the strength of their connection through every challenge.
The journey with Bruce’s health began in March 2022 when his family announced his aphasia diagnosis. Later, his wife, Emma Heming Willis, confirmed the progression to frontotemporal dementia in February 2023. Despite the gravity of these diagnoses, Rumer and her family have remained positive, with a focus on staying close-knit and offering one another unwavering support.
Rumer also took a moment to reflect on her childhood and the strong family dynamic created by her parents, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, who divorced in 2000. “The thing I’m most grateful for is that even when they split up, they created such a beautiful foundation of prioritizing my sisters and I, that I never felt like I had to choose — they never played against each other,” she recalled. Rumer’s appreciation for her parents’ ability to co-parent with love and unity shines through as she speaks warmly of their lasting family bond.
Today, Rumer continues to carry forward that legacy of love as she co-parents with her ex-boyfriend, Derek Richard Thomas, raising their 21-month-old daughter, Louetta. “As I’m working through co-parenting as well I just feel deep gratitude for the example they’ve set,” she shared, noting how her parents’ example has shaped her own approach to family life.
In her conversation, Rumer also spoke about her parents’ enduring love and mutual support. “One of the most beautiful things to witness about my parents’ relationship still is just their love and support of each other,” she said, recounting how the family regularly gathers for dinner at Emma’s house, where they continue to foster an environment of connection. “We go over to dinner at Emma’s house with the girls and we’re family,” she added, emphasizing that while family structures may differ, the essence of what makes a family remains the same.
Through it all, Bruce’s family is standing strong, showing that no matter the challenges life brings, the bond of love and unity can persevere. Their strength and dedication to one another offer a touching reminder of what it truly means to be a family.