Bruce Willis’ daughter, Rumer Willis, shared a deeply emotional update with fans about her father as he continues to live with a form of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) known as primary progressive aphasia (PPA).
On Thursday, the 37-year-old took to her Instagram Story for a Q&A session, responding to questions submitted by followers. When someone asked, “How’s your dad doing?” she noted that it’s a question she receives often.
Rumer said the inquiry is difficult to answer, explaining that “the reality is, anyone dealing with FTD isn’t doing very well,” making the topic painful to address.
Rumer took to her Instagram Story on Thursday to respond to questions from fans. When one follower asked, “How’s your dad doing?” she acknowledged that it’s a question she hears constantly.
She explained that her 70-year-old father is “doing OK, as much as someone living with frontotemporal dementia can be.”
Rumer admitted that this reality shapes how she interprets his condition.
Even so, she said she feels “so happy and grateful” to still be able to “hug him.” And regardless of whether he fully recognizes her in the moment, she’s certain he “recognizes the love,” a feeling she continues to experience from him as well.
She admitted the question is difficult to answer, noting that “the reality is, no one living with FTD is doing particularly well.”
Rumer went on to explain that Bruce is “doing OK for someone living with frontotemporal dementia.”
Although he’s no longer the father she remembers from before his diagnosis, she still catches glimpses of “a spark of him,” something she says brings her comfort.
She’s also grateful that she can bring her 2-year-old daughter, Louetta, to spend time with her grandfather.
The Willis family first shared in March 2022 that Bruce had been diagnosed with aphasia, a development that led to his retirement from his long and celebrated acting career.
She said she remains “so happy and grateful” for the simple fact that she can still “hug him.” And even on days when he may not fully recognize her, she’s certain he still “recognizes the love,” a feeling she continues to receive from him as well.
The family later shared his full FTD diagnosis in February of the following year.
By August, his wife, Emma Heming, disclosed that she had made “the hard decision” to move Bruce into a separate residence, noting that his progressing condition requires constant care in a calm, safe, and structured environment.
Addressing critics who were quick to judge her choice as his primary caregiver, she pushed back firmly, saying, “If they haven’t lived this experience, they don’t get to weigh in — and they certainly don’t get a vote.”
Although Bruce is no longer the father she once knew, Rumer says she still catches “a spark of him,” something that “feels really nice.”
Rumer is also grateful that she can bring her 2-year-old daughter, Louetta, to spend time with her grandfather.
Heming, 47, recently shared that the new living arrangement has actually been helpful for the entire family, allowing their daughters — 13-year-old Mabel and 11-year-old Evelyn — the space to simply be energetic, carefree kids.
She emphasized that having separate homes doesn’t mean their lives are separate. Heming still spends much of her time with Bruce, and the girls keep clothing, toys, and arts-and-crafts supplies at his nearby house.
Bruce is also father to Rumer, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31, whom he shares with his first wife, actress Demi Moore, 63.
