In a deeply moving and candid social media post, Rumer Willis has provided a sobering update on the health of her father, Hollywood icon Bruce Willis.
A Father's Declining Recognition
The 37-year-old actress disclosed that her father's condition, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), has deteriorated to the point where he does not always recognise her. Bruce Willis, now 70, who was famously married to Demi Moore from 1987 to 2000, has been moved from the family home he shares with his current wife, Emma Heming Willis, to ensure he receives round-the-clock specialist care for his condition.
Rumer, who has forged her own career in acting, shared a video on Instagram where she expressed her complex emotions. She stated, "I'm so grateful that when I go over there, and I give him a hug, whether he recognises me or not, that he can feel the love I've given him, and I can feel it back from him." She added that she still sees "a spark of him" during their visits, which provides her with immense comfort.
Finding Solace in Family Love
The actress also spoke about the importance of introducing her young daughter, Louetta, to her grandfather. She explained that these family visits are a source of profound gratitude for her, allowing them to spend precious time together and feel the enduring bond of love.
When directly asked by a fan about her father's wellbeing, Rumer offered a nuanced and honest response. "People always ask me this question, and I think it's kind of a hard one to answer, because the truth is that anybody with FTD (frontotemporal dementia) is not doing great," she said. She clarified that while he is "doing okay" within the context of his diagnosis, the conventional parameters of "doing great" no longer apply.
A Look Back and Moving Forward
This is not the first time Rumer has publicly reflected on her relationship with her father. Earlier this year, she posted nostalgic childhood photos for Father's Day, expressing how much she misses him. Bruce Willis is a father to five children: three daughters—Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah—with Demi Moore, and two younger daughters, Mabel and Evelyn, with his wife Emma, whom he married in 2009.
The family's public sharing of their journey has shone a light on the realities of living with frontotemporal dementia, offering a raw and human perspective on a challenging condition.
