Since Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023, his wife Emma Heming Willis has developed a unique way to connect with the Hollywood star.
Speaking with Good Morning America, Heming recalled how the first changes she noticed were in Bruce’s personality. “For someone who was very talkative and very engaged, he was just a little more quiet… He felt a little removed, very cold. Not like Bruce, who is very warm and affectionate,” she said. “It just wasn’t the man that I married. It was like waking up with someone else.”
The couple has since developed their own “language” to communicate, she revealed in an interview with the Sunday Times. “Bruce and I now have our own way to be with each other. It’s just about sitting with him, walking with him, listening to him as he tries to verbalise in his own language,” she explained. Heming noted that she must now be intentional about “hearing him [and] validating him” as his ability to process both spoken and written language has declined.
Recently, Willis was moved into a second, one-storey home to receive round-the-clock care—a decision Heming described as “one of the hardest” she has ever had to make. Despite the move, the couple continues to eat breakfast and dinner together daily, prioritizing routine and connection for their daughters.
Heming also emphasized the support from friends, saying: “It’s been beautiful to see… so many of Bruce’s friends continue to show up for him, they bring in life and fun.”
