Bruce Willis has reportedly experienced a significant decline in his cognitive health, with sources claiming the Hollywood actor is now “living in his own world,” three years after being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
“Sometimes he looks like a baby who is staring at an object with curiosity, just taking it in,” an insider told the Daily Mail on Sunday. The source added that despite his reported cognitive deterioration, Willis continues to appear physically healthy.
The insider also claimed that the 71-year-old actor remains unaware of his worsening mental condition and does not recognize the changes brought on by his dementia.
“Sometimes he looks like a baby who is staring at an object with curiosity, just taking it in,” a source told the Daily Mail on Sunday about Willis, who is pictured alongside his wife.
“He knows his life is different, but he doesn’t think it is that different,” the insider claimed. “He doesn’t talk about it or even complain much. He senses something is off, but he doesn’t have a full grasp of it.”
The source also revealed that Willis’ personality has changed significantly over the years. Once known for his high energy and talkative nature, the Hollywood star has reportedly become calmer and more “at ease” as his condition progresses.
A representative for Willis has not yet responded to Page Six’s request for comment regarding the latest claims about his health.
In September, the “Die Hard” actor’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, opened up about the emotional challenges of caring for her husband, describing the “constant state of grief” she continues to experience amid his ongoing battle with dementia.
The insider claimed that Willis (pictured in the 2020 film “Hard Kill”) remains largely unaware of his cognitive decline, despite reportedly experiencing significant changes in his personality.
The source claimed that Willis (pictured in his 1988 film “Die Hard”) no longer displays the same high energy or talkative personality that defined him during his younger years.
“It’s natural — we all want our loved ones to be healthy, full of life and [be] the person they always were,” Heming told Hello! magazine at the time. “But FTD is a devastating illness that steals things from you very slowly.”
Heming also highlighted the widespread lack of awareness surrounding dementia, revealing that people frequently ask whether her husband still recognizes her. She described the misconception as “really eye-opening.”
“My answer is always a resounding yes. Bruce doesn’t have Alzheimer’s. He has frontotemporal dementia, which affects a completely different part of the brain,” she explained, emphasizing the important distinction between the two conditions.
Heming emphasized that her husband still recognizes her and their family members, explaining that his form of dementia has not significantly affected his ability to remember his loved ones.
Willis, 71, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in February 2023, nearly a year after his family announced his retirement from acting following an earlier diagnosis of aphasia, a condition that affects communication and language abilities.
“While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” his family shared in a statement at the time, describing FTD as a “cruel disease” that can “strike anyone.”
Throughout his ongoing health struggles, the “Sixth Sense” star has continued to receive love and support from his family, including his five children, who have remained close to him as he navigates the challenges of the progressive illness.
Bruce Willis shares daughters Mabel and Evelyn with his wife, Emma Heming Willis, and daughters Rumer, Scout and Tallulah with his former wife, Demi Moore. (The actor is pictured alongside Moore, Heming and his three eldest daughters in 2019.)
Willis and Heming, who tied the knot in 2009, are parents to Mabel, 14, and Evelyn, 12.
The Hollywood star also shares three older daughters — Rumer, 38, Scout, 35, and Tallulah, 32 — with Moore, to whom he was previously married.
Speaking about the special relationships her husband shares with his children, Heming expressed admiration for the unique connection each daughter has developed with him.
“Each of them has built her own unique bond with him,” Heming shared in September. “It’s incredible because all five are completely different, but they share the same foundation.”
“He knows his life is different, but he doesn’t think it is that different,” the insider claimed. “He doesn’t talk about it or even complain much. He senses something is off, but he doesn’t have a full grasp of it.”
The source also revealed that Willis’ personality has changed significantly over the years. Once known for his high energy and talkative nature, the Hollywood star has reportedly become calmer and more “at ease” as his condition progresses.
A representative for Willis has not yet responded to Page Six’s request for comment regarding the latest claims about his health.
In September, the “Die Hard” actor’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, opened up about the emotional challenges of caring for her husband, describing the “constant state of grief” she continues to experience amid his ongoing battle with dementia.
