Emma Heming Willis has shared a heartwarming update amid her husband’s dementia battle. The Sixth Sense and Die Hard star, Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia more than three years ago. The family revealed the devastating news in 2023.
According to the NHS, the type of dementia Bruce has been diagnosed with is “an uncommon type of dementia that causes problems with behaviour and language.” The family continue to share insights into their personal lives, and a recent Instagram post marked a special occasion for actress Emma and Bruce.
A picture of Bruce kissing Emma was uploaded with the caption: “18 years ago, he became my boyfriend. With one kiss on the top of my head, time stood still. I’m so lucky to know this kind of love.” A blue love heart emoji was added to the end of the message.
In a personal essay published on her website over Christmas, Emma opened up about the emotional toll of the festive season since her husband’s dementia diagnosis. She wrote: “For me, the holidays carry memories of Bruce being at the centre of it all.
“He loved this time of year. The energy, the family time, the traditions. He was the pancake maker, the get-out-in-the-snow-with-the-kids guy, the steady presence moving through the house as the day unfolded. There was comfort in the routine of knowing exactly how the day would go, especially since I’m a creature of habit.”
In a heartbreaking admission, Emma said: “Dementia doesn’t erase those memories, but it does create space between then and now. And that space can ache.”
The couple first met in 2007 and were later seen on public outings together the following year. They married in 2009 and have since welcomed two daughters into the world, Mabel and Evelyn. Bruce is also the dad to three other daughters from his marriage to Demi Moore.
The 70-year-old retired from acting in 2022 after he was diagnosed with aphasia. In August 2025, Emma said: “The language is going, and, you know, we’ve learned to adapt. And we have a way of communicating with him, which is just a different way.”
However, the star did explain that there are moments when The Sixth Sense actor’s personality shines through that allow her to go back to a period before his health problems.
She said: “Not days, but we get moments. It’s his laugh, right? Like, he has such a hearty laugh. And, you know, sometimes you’ll see that twinkle in his eye, or that smirk, and, you know, I just get, like, transported.”
Despite his health problems in recent years, Emma is “grateful” that Bruce is still around. The author said: “I’m grateful. I’m grateful that my husband is still very much here.”