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Rumer Willis hopes being transparent about Bruce Willis' health will give people hope

Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times on

Published in Entertainment News

LOS ANGELES — Rumer Willis, the eldest daughter of action star Bruce Willis and actor Demi Moore, says her father is "great" as he continues to battle dementia.

"Yeah, yeah, doing OK. Thank you so much for asking," Rumer Willis told Fox News Digital at the Wednesday night premiere of her new film, "My Divorce Party," during the 24th Beverly Hills Film Festival.

The "Empire" and "Sorority Row" star said sharing updates about her father's health journey has been a positive experience for her family members, who have rallied behind the "Die Hard" and "Armageddon" actor since announcing in March 2022 that he would step away from his career after struggling with aphasia, a cognitive disorder that impairs his ability to communicate.

"I think, for me, through this experience, what's been so incredible is my dad is so beloved, and that's been so evident in the transparency with which we've been sharing," his 35-year-old daughter said.

"And I think if there's any way sharing our experience brings hope — whatever comes forward as a family — that can have an effect and bring any sort of hope, comfort to someone else experiencing that, then to me, that's … everything."

Willis' health had been a concern for many who worked with the prolific actor in his late-career years, with some questioning whether the action star was fully aware of his surroundings on set.

 

Some described heart-wrenching scenes as Willis grappled with his loss of mental acuity and an inability to remember his dialogue, The Times reported previously. In February 2023, Willis' family announced that he had been diagnosed more specifically with frontotemporal dementia, a degenerative brain disease that currently has no cure.

Rumer Willis marked her father's 69th birthday in March with photos of her infant daughter Louetta with her international film and TV star grandfather, who plays with his granddaughter in the sweet image.

"With baby Lou," she wrote on Instagram stories, adding, "Lou loves you so big."

In March, the "Pulp Fiction" star's wife, Emma Heming, who has shared glimpses of her new role as her husband's caregiver, publicly disputed a headline claiming that Willis felt "no more joy" following his diagnoses.

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