Bruce Willis was spotted riding around Studio City in Los Angeles on July 19, in an ultra-rare appearance for the Die Hard actor, who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023.
The 71-year-old looked laid back as he sat in the passenger seat, dressed in a blue jacket and navy trucker cap. The outing comes amid his health battle, which has caused Bruce to lose much of his ability to speak due to the debilitating brain disorder.
FTD symptoms can range from changes in behavior to loss of empathy and memory issues. Bruce was initially diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, before his family discovered that he was actually suffering from FTD.
© Javiles/Bruce / BACKGRIDHis wife of 17 years, Emma Heming, recently clarified on The Bossticks podcast that Bruce did not have memory issues, but rather his speech had been impacted. "The one that Bruce has affects language, but there's another variant that will affect behaviour and another one that could affect movement," she said.
"That's a different part of the brain. So when people say 'Oh, you know, does he remember who you are?' Well, he does because he doesn't have Alzheimer's; he has FTD." She continued: "I think that's a very common misconception that, when you think of dementia, we think of memory loss."
"It's different [from] Alzheimer's. And Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, but FTD is the most common form of dementia for people under the age of 60."
© VCG via Getty ImagesWhen Bruce's illness began to progress, Emma, who is his primary caretaker and mother of his two youngest daughters, was forced to make the difficult decision to move him into their second home.
Learn more about Bruce's diagnosis below...
"It was one of the hardest decisions that I've had to make so far," the former model explained on the ABC News special Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey.
"But I knew, first and foremost, Bruce would want that for our daughters. You know, he would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs." The pair share Mabel, 14, and Evelyn, 12. Bruce is also a father to daughters Rumer, 37, Scout, 35, and Tallulah, 32, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Demi Moore.
© Getty"When we go over, either we're outside, or we're watching a movie…it's just really about being able to be there, and connect with Bruce," Emma said of his new home. "It is a house that is filled with love, and warmth, and care, and laughter. And it's been beautiful to see that, to see how many of Bruce's friends continue to show up for him, and they bring in life and fun."
© InstagramDemi, Rumer, Scout and Tallulah have stood by Emma's side throughout Bruce's health battle, and have provided steadfast support for the 48-year-old. The Substance actress defended Emma's decision to move Bruce into a separate home during an appearance on The Oprah Podcast, and praised her strength and fortitude.
"I have so much compassion for Emma in this; being a young woman, there's no way that anybody could have anticipated where this was gonna go, and I really think she's done a masterful job," she said.
