Tallulah Willis Reveals Her Dad Bruce Willis ‘Lights Up' When He Recognizes Her Amid Ongoing Battle With Dementia

Jun 05, 2023

Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of eating disorders, which may be troubling for some readers.

Bruce Willis is one of Hollywood’s most famous actors. The 68-year-old found fame after starring in the comedy-drama series, “Moonlighting,” from 1985 to 1989. However, he is mainly known for his roles in several action movies. 

Bruce portrayed John McClane in the “Die Hard” movie franchise. He also starred in movies like “Unbreakable,” “Hudson Hawk,” “Armageddon,” “12 Monkeys,” “Moonrise Kingdom,” and many more. 

Bruce has endeared himself to millions of fans worldwide due to Bruce’s many movie roles and achievements in Hollywood. He is also the recipient of multiple awards and recognitions. In 2006, Bruce received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

Bruce is also a family man and a proud girl dad. The actor has been married twice; first to actress Demi Moore, and second to model Emma Heming. Bruce and Moore tied the knot in 1987, and they share three daughters: Rumer Willis, Scout Willis, and Tallulah Willis. The couple divorced in October 2000, two years after announcing their separation. 

Despite the separation, Bruce and Moore have maintained a close friendship. The actor tied the knot with model Emma Heming on March 21, 2009, and shares two daughters, Mabel Ray Willis and Evelyn Penn Willis, with her.

In March 2022, Bruce’s family announced that he was suffering from aphasia. In February 2023, the family further revealed that the beloved actor was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. The diagnosis meant Bruce’s health had been declining for years and would continue to do so. 

However, his family continues to surround him with love. The actor’s daughter, Tallulah, penned an emotional essay in Vogue on May 31, 2023, detailing her battle with grief, healing, and the journey ahead amid her dad’s diagnosis. Read on for more details. 

Fans and movie lovers worldwide were shocked in March 2022 when Bruce Willis’s family announced he was diagnosed with aphasia. The condition is one that makes the victim have difficulty in communication and language processing. In the statement, the family explained that the condition would impact Bruce’s cognitive abilities and noted that it was a challenging time for them. 

Following the statement’s release, the family has regularly updated fans about Bruce’s well-being and the difficulties they faced amid his health struggles. His wife, Heming, regularly updated her Instagram feed with pictures and videos of the family celebrating milestones with Bruce. The family and fans hoped Bruce’s condition would improve, but their hopes were shattered once again when the actor’s oldest daughter, Rumer Willis, released a statement on Feb. 16, 2023, revealing that her father’s aphasia had progressed into frontotemporal dementia. In the statement, which Rumer made through Instagram, she noted that Bruce’s challenges with communication were just one of the symptoms he would face. 

About two weeks after the announcement, Heming revealed she met dementia treatment expert Teepa Snow and discussed how to care for Bruce. On March 21, 2023, Heming celebrated her and Bruce’s 14th wedding anniversary by posting a video on Instagram that showed them renewing their vows in 2019. Heming has shared several other updates about her ailing husband amid his diagnosis. However, she isn’t the only one, as Moore and her three daughters are also taking measures to recall how loving Bruce is and still is. 

Tallulah became the latest from the Willis family to share her feelings about Bruce’s diagnosis and narrate how she is coping with everything happening now. 

On May 31, 2023, Tallulah penned an emotional essay on Vogue. Tallulah said she had known something was wrong with her dad for a long time. She explained that his health decline began with a sort of vague unresponsiveness. As Bruce's unresponsiveness widened, Tallulah took it personally sometimes, believing that he had lost interest in her after welcoming two daughters with Heming. 

Tallulah struggled with such feelings because of her experiences during adolescence. She met her dad’s health decline with avoidance and denial as she struggled with her own demons. However, Tallulah received treatment for an eating disorder and a borderline personality disorder diagnosis. She explained: 

“Recovery is probably lifelong, but I now have the tools to be present in all facets of my life, and especially in my relationship with my dad.”

Rather than feeling afraid of being destroyed by sadness, Tallulah explained she now feels she can show up and be counted on. She is savoring every experience with her dad. She confessed that she now takes many pictures whenever she visits his house, documenting everything.

"I have every voicemail from him saved on a hard drive. I find that I’m trying to document, to build a record for the day when he isn’t there to remind me of him and of us," she said.

Tallulah also revealed that her dad still knows her, saying: 

“He still knows who I am and lights up when I enter the room.”

She has hopes for her dad that she’s reluctant to let go of. She also noted:

“I’ve always recognized elements of his personality in me, and I just know that we’d be such good friends if only there were more time.”

Hopefully, Tallulah and other members of the Willis family will find the strength they need to navigate this difficult phase. 

Can you relate to Tallulah’s story? Do you have a friend or relative that has a similar diagnosis to Bruce Willis? How did you handle the issue, and what experiences do you have to share? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends and family members.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, please visit the National Eating Disorder Association website, where you can call, chat or text with a representative. The association provides free and confidential support for you or your loved ones.