Cybill Shepherd, 76, makes rare comment about reconciling with 'important' Bruce Willis


Despite Moonlighting being a smash series, things weren't easy off-camera


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Cybill Shepherd stars as former fashion model Maddie Hayes, who has a reversal of fortune leaving her with few assets... one of which is the quirky "Blue Moon Detective Agency" and employee Bruce Willis as detective David Addison© Disney General Entertainment Con
Rebecca Lewis
Rebecca LewisLos Angeles correspondent
1 hour ago
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Cybill Shepherd has had a career many can only dream of, making her debut in the iconic The Last Picture Show in 1971, and then starring in the hit 1980s drama Moonlighting with Bruce Willis.

However, despite being a smash series, things weren't easy off-camera, and Cybill and Bruce had a complex relationship caused by scheduling conflicts and heavy workloads, – the show became notorious for airing reruns when new episodes had not been completed in time for broadcast – and rumors of a romance.

Cybill Shepherd (Maddie), Bruce Willis (David) in 1988 picture© Disney General Entertainment Con
Cybill as Maddie, and Bruce as David in 1988 picture

Now 76, Cybill has been looking back over her remarkable career, and several years ago reconciled with Bruce, telling HELLO! that Bruce "means so much to me".

"I took everything that I did on Moonlighting very personally, and Bruce Willis was so important to me," Cybill said at the 2026 Race to Erase MS Gala on June 5, 2026.

Moonlighting was one of the first dramedy series, a lighthearted combination of mystery and comedy that revolved around cases investigated by the Blue Moon Detective Agency and its two partners, Madolyn "Maddie" Hayes and David Addison.

It won six Emmys over its four-year run, and 2023 finally appeared on streaming service Hulu, introducing the show to a new generation of fans.

Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in 1986 still from Moonlighting© Disney General Entertainment Con
Bruce and Cybill in 1986 still from Moonlighting

In 2022, Cybill confirmed that they had mended fences in the months before Bruce was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and she told HELLO! that it was important to both of them because "we want to make sure we celebrate" what they went through together.

Cybill's daughter Clementine has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and Cybill shared that she was in attendance "to support everyone who has that challenge and just here to support this cause".

Cybill Shepherd and daughter Clementine Ford arrive at the 23rd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala in 2016© FilmMagic
Cybill and daughter Clementine arrive at the 23rd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala in 2016

The Race to Erase MS Gala was founded by Nancy Davis to raise funds for multiple sclerosis research and the organization's "Center Without Walls" collaborative medical program. 

In the 33 years since it has been running, the gala has enabled doctors and researchers around the country to get 25 FDA-approved medical treatments and continue their work.

(L-R) Debra O'Connell,T ania Daniels, Sharon Klein, and Dana Walden, President and Chief Creative Officer, attend the 33rd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on June 05, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)© Getty Images for Race to Erase M
(L-R) Debra O'Connell, Tania Daniels, Sharon Klein, and Dana Walden

At the 2026 gala, $1.8 million was raised, and a live auction saw Dana Walden, the President of Disney, and two of her colleagues bid $25,000 for an Australian doodle puppy named Daisy, whom they gifted to their colleague, Tania Daniels. 

"She is the most wonderful woman," Dana told HELLO! as they handed over the puppy to a tearful Tania.

Jane Seymour attends the 33rd Annual Race to Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on June 05, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)© FilmMagic
Jane attends the 33rd Annual Race to Erase MS Gala

Ty Dolla Sign, Richie Sambora, and Rachel Platt all performed, and the audience was  treated to a L'Agence fashion show and a performance from Dancing With The Stars' Alan Bersten and Emma Slater.

Jane Seymour, Virginia Madsen, Carmen Electra, Kathy Hilton, and Jesse Palmer were all also in attendance, and Kathy gifted two tickets to her iconic Christmas pyjama party for the auction.

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