Bruce Willis is losing his “joie de vivre” and “language skills” as he suffers from dementia, according to a heartbreaking new update from a friend.
Last year, 68-year-old Bruce retired from show business as he struggled with the brain disorder “aphasia,” which causes the patient’s language skills to deteriorate.
Then in March this year his family announced that his illness had “progressed” and he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Glenn Gordon Caron, who created Bruce’s star-studded 1980s sitcom Moonlighting, has now shared his experience visiting the film star during his illness.
“My sense is that he knows who I am in the first minute or three,” Glenn said in his devastating interview with Page Six. “He’s not entirely verbal; “He used to be a voracious reader – he didn’t want anyone to know – and now he doesn’t read anymore.”
Details: According to a heartbreaking new update from a friend, Bruce Willis is losing his “joie de vivre” and “language skills” as he suffers from dementia; pictured 2019
Review: The news came from the creator of Bruce’s star show Moonlighting, in which he stars alongside leading lady Cybill Shepherd
Glenn, who also created the show Medium, revealed: “All those language skills are no longer available to him, and yet he’s still Bruce.”
He added: “When you’re with him you know he’s Bruce and you’re grateful he’s there, but the joy of life is gone.”
Bruce is currently cared for by his wife Emma Heming, with whom he shares his two younger daughters Mabel (11) and Evelyn (9).
He also has three adult daughters – Rumer, 35, Scout, 32, and Tallulah, 29 – with his ex-wife Demi Moore, who is known to have remained friendly with both him and Emma.
Since Bruce’s battle with aphasia began, Glenn has apparently tried to pay him monthly visits, which hasn’t always been successful.
“I’m not always that good,” the television writer admitted, “but I try and talk to him and his wife and have an easy relationship with his three older children.” I tried very hard to stay in his life. ‘
Glenn shared, “The thing that does.” [his disease] It’s so overwhelming if you’ve ever spent any time with Bruce Willis, there’s no one who feels more joy in life than him.”
Bruce “just enjoyed waking up every morning and trying to live life to the fullest,” but now he lives as if he was “seeing life through a screen door.”
Back in the spotlight: Moonlighting (pictured) just made its streaming debut on Hulu, and Glenn is doing the media rounds for the launch alongside Cybill Shepherd
Sizzling: The two played detectives who form a romantic relationship with each other, and their chemistry was often credited with the success of the series
Moonlighting just made its streaming debut on Hulu, and Glenn is making the media rounds for the release alongside the series’ lead, Cybill Shepherd.
Bruce, then an unknown actor, rose to fame in the 1980s comedy starring alongside Cybill, who had already had a career as a film star in the 1970s.
The two played detectives who become romantically involved, and their sizzling chemistry was often credited with the success of the series.
Although Bruce’s dementia has now progressed, Glenn managed to break the news to him that Moonlighting was bowing out to Hulu.
“I know he’s really happy that the show is being made available to people, even though he can’t tell me that,” Glenn said. “When I got to spend time with him, we talked about it and I know he’s excited.”