Rumer Willis has shared a candid update about her father’s health, admitting that Bruce doesn’t always recognise her in a heartbreaking dementia update. The Die Hard star was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia back in February 2023. Since then, his supportive family, including his ex-wife Demi Moore and their three daughters, have shared updates on his condition.
His loving family have been advocating for more awareness around the neurodegenerative condition as the 70-year-old actor received round-the-clock care. On Friday (November 21), the 37-year-old star struggled to hold back tears as she gave a brutally honest update about her father’s health online.
She began: “People always ask me this question, and I think it’s a hard one to answer. The truth is that anybody with FTD is not doing great, but he’s doing okay in terms of somebody who is dealing with frontotemporal dementia.
“The only way that I feel like I can answer that in a way that was like, ‘He’s doing great’ is like, those parameters don’t really work anymore in my mind.” The mum-of-one added that she felt “so lucky, happy, and grateful” to still be able to hug her dad, even though he doesn’t always know who she is.
She went on: “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.
“I still see a spark of him, and he can feel the love that I’m giving, so that feels really nice.” Rumer ended the video stating that she feels grateful that she can still spend time with the Pulp Fiction star and her daughter, Louetta.
Bruce welcomed Rummer in 1988 with The Substance star Demi, before going on to become a proud dad to Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31. However, the couple parted ways in 2000, with the Hollywood actor going on to remarry Emma Heming in 2009.
The happy couple went on to welcome two more daughters together: Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11. Last month, Emma shared a devastating update as to how the pair’s children are coping with their father’s illness.
She told Vogue Australia: “I think they’re doing well, all things considered, but it’s hard. They grieve, they miss their dad so much.
“He’s missing important milestones, that’s tough for them – but kids are resilient, [although] I used to hate hearing that because people didn’t understand what we were walking through.” She added: “I don’t know if my kids will ever bounce back, but they’re learning and so am I.”