Sylvester Stallone Says He’s ‘So Sad’ About Friend Bruce Willis’s Health Condition

Nov 30, 2022 by apost team

The ‘80s and ‘90s were a big time for action movies and made A-list stars of its heroes. Among them are Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis, who nailed the zeitgeist of that era of cinema with their unforgettable turns in films such as the “Rambo” and “Die Hard” franchises, respectively. Their careers seemed to have nowhere to go but up as each progressive film served to cement their legendary status in Hollywood. 

While they began to see more temperate success towards the latter half of their careers, their names still shine bright in the city of lights. For Willis, in particular, a harrowing medical diagnosis spelled the end of his acting days and he retired from the screen in March 2022. Stallone, meanwhile, remains committed to hashing out a few projects every few years, including the film “Samaritan,” released in August 2022 and the TV series “Tulsa King,” which premiered on Paramount+ in November 2022.

Before his retirement, Willis had taken to starring in mostly low-budget, independent action-thriller and science fiction films, while churning out a commendable eight films in 2021. These included “Cosmic Sin” with Frank Grillo and “Midnight in the Switchgrass,” with Megan Fox. However, concerns about Willis’ mental state had arisen on the set of his last few films. Many who worked alongside him noted he appeared confused on set while his lines were often rewritten as he had trouble learning them or he was fed them through an earpiece. But despite his retirement, his popularity and body of work will forever stand as an achievement only a few actors can boast, and it's no doubt his friend, Stallone, who came up the ranks with him, salutes him for it.

For someone as prominent as Stallone, the kind of success he has achieved is truly an inspiration to many. But the story behind Stallone's success is even more inspiring – he worked his way to the top before achieving the pinnacle of his fame. In fact, he had gone through a lot of obstacles before achieving what he had achieved throughout the years.

Born Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone, he gained global recognition not only as an actor but also as a writer and director. His mom was an American astrologer named Jackie Stallone. Early in his career, Stallone struggled to get acting roles, even as an extra. His success is a result of sheer hard work and persistence.

“I couldn't even get a cameo role to play an Italian," he told ABC News in 2016. "I'll never forget this: it was a party scene, 300 guests! And they told me no. I asked them,' What part of me didn't go through an Italian look?"'

In 1976, he made a major breakthrough in his career with the film "Rocky," which he wrote and starred in. He went on to star in films such as “First Blood,” “Rhinestone,” “F.I.S.T.,” “Victory,” “Tango & Cash,” “Nighthawks,” “Demolition Man” and “The Expendables.”

In 2016, he bagged his first-ever Golden Globe award as Best Supporting Actor award for his role in "Creed," whose script he also contributed to. The emotional speech he delivered, along with the standing ovation he received, proved just how much he deserved it.

While Stallone is showing no signs of stepping away from the limelight, the same cannot be said for his friend Willis. After his retirement was announced, Stallone was approached by the media on a few occasions for his reaction to the sad news.

apost.com

In March 2022, Willis’s wife, Emma Hemming, took to Instagram to announce her husband’s retirement from the film industry. “Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,” she wrote. According to the NIDCD, aphasia is a disorder that results in difficulties in formulating and understanding language. The movie industry was rocked by the announcement, with many expressing words of hope and kindness for Willis and his family.

Among them was Stallone, who said on the red carpet for the premiere of “Tulsa King" that Willis’s diagnosis was a reminder to always appreciate the now. “It brings out the fragility of life and how you have to really – and everybody talks about it but we never do it – really seize the moment, embrace it, if you're going to say you love someone say it now,” Stallone lamented. 

He went on to say: “It bothers me a great deal because I started with him.”

In the same vein, he also expressed his sympathies for his famous friend, as he told The Hollywood Reporter: “Bruce is going through some really, really difficult times. So he’s been sort of incommunicado. That kills me. It’s so sad.” 

Back in March 2022, shortly after Willis’s retirement announcement, Stallone paid tribute to his friend on Instagram in a series of throwback photos of the two of them together, captioned simply, “We go back a long way, praying for the best for you and your wonderful family.”

It’s great to see a big Hollywood star like Sylvester Stallone trying his best to support his friend. Are you a fan of Stallone or Bruce Willis’s films? Which are your favorites? Let us know and don’t forget to pass this along to all the movie buffs you know.