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Bruce Willis is taking a break from acting while battling a health diagnosis, his family announced Wednesday.
The 67-year-old actor has been diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that affects the ability to communicate.
“Bruce’s amazing supporters, we wanted to share as a family that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia which is affecting his cognitive abilities. As a result, and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping down from the career that has meant so much to him,” the family statement said.
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American actor Bruce Willis and his wife model Emma Heming. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
It continued: “This is a truly challenging time for our family and we are so grateful for your continued love, compassion and support. We’re moving through this time as a strong family unit and we wanted to include his fans because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him.”
“As Bruce always says, ‘Live it high,’ and together we plan to do just that,” read the statement, issued on behalf of his wife Emma, ex-wife Demi Moore and daughters Rumer, Scout , Tallulah and Mabel was written. and Evelyn.
According to the Mayo Clinic, aphasia can affect the person’s ability to speak, write, and understand language, both verbal and written. “It typically occurs suddenly after a stroke or head injury, but can also develop gradually from a slow-growing brain tumor or disease that causes progressive, permanent damage (degenerative),” the Mayo Clinic explains on its website.
News of the “Die Hard” actor’s diagnosis comes just over a week after his 67th birthday.
(L-R) Rumer Willis, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore and Tallulah Belle Willis. Bruce’s family says his cognitive abilities have been affected by his diagnosis. (Phil Faraone/VMN18/Getty Images for Comedy Central)
Willis’ ex-wife Demi Moore recently sent him a special birthday message on Instagram. The post included a picture of Moore with Willis. “Happy birthday Bruce! Grateful for our blended family,” Moore captioned the former couple’s picture, adding a white heart emoji.
Moore and Willis have remained friends since their divorce. The ex-boyfriends were married from 1987 to 2000. They share three daughters: Rumer, 33, Scout, 30, and Tallulah, 28.
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(LR) Rumer Willis, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Scout Willis, Emma Heming Willis and Tallulah Willis attend Demi Moore’s ‘Inside Out’ Book Party on September 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Goop)
Willis remarried Emma Hemming in 2009 and has two young daughters: Mabel, 9, and Evelyn, 7.
In 2020, Moore, Willis and their daughters quarantined together during the coronavirus pandemic.
“There have been many challenges and many tragedies in this pandemic, but I also think there have been many gifts and blessings,” Moore previously said during an interview with Naomi Campbell. “Personally, I feel like I was really grateful for things slowing down and the time we had.”
Moore and Willis were later joined by the actor’s wife.
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Bruce Willis and wife Emma Heming Willis attend the ‘Motherless Brooklyn’ arrivals during the 57th New York Film Festival on October 11, 2019 in New York City. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for film at Lincoln Center)
“My daughters love their little sisters and for me, our family, whatever its form, it’s important to stay together and that the little ones feel comfortable with me and know me so that they know their sisters better too. ”, reflects Moore, “It was really sweet and we sure had some silly times.”