Celebrities React to Dementia Diagnosis Among Their Own

Bruce Willis rose to prominence as an American actor, appearing in films such as “Die Hard,” “Pulp Fiction,” and “The Sixth Sense.” Yet his acting abilities were not limited to the silver screen. Willis appeared in “Moonlighting” alongside actress Cybill Shepherd and in other Off-Broadway productions. Willis’ family stated in March 2022 that physicians had diagnosed him with aphasia and that he would be taking a break from acting.

On February 16, the Willis family issued another statement in which they updated the public on the iconic actor’s medical condition. They stated that his condition had deteriorated since the family’s previous disclosure in 2022. Specialists narrowed down the actor’s condition to frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Following the announcement, numerous celebrities reacted by rushing to social media to express their support.

According to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD), the brain disorder is mostly unknown and particularly brutal. Unfortunately, there is no current therapy for the disorder, but Willis’ family hopes that his celebrity and openness about his condition will bring greater attention to FTD, as well as further research and future remedies.

Following the announcement, Willis’ ex-wife and fellow star Demi Moore took to Instagram. She thanked everyone for their overwhelming love and support at this difficult period. Moore stated that the family was relieved to receive a definitive diagnosis.

“Breaking Bad” star Aaron Paul also reacted to the message, sending “hugs” to the family and praising Bruce Willis as a “damn legend.” Maria Shriver, California’s former first lady, reacted to the news on Twitter, thanking the Willis family for “shining a much needed light” on FTD, offering her sympathy to the family, and encouraged others to show their support by respecting the actor’s privacy.

Other celebrities who spoke out when the news broke were Queen Latifah, Alyssa Milano, Paris Hilton, and Rita Wilson.