Bruce Willis was pictured for the first time since his wife, Emma Heming, revealed heartbreaking information about his ongoing battle with dementia.
The 68-year-old actor was spotted in the passenger seat of a car in Los Angeles Monday, just hours after Heming, 45, went on the “Today” show and said it’s “hard to know” if he’s aware of his deteriorating health.
The “Die Hard” star wore a quilted navy jacket and matching hat during his outing.
This is a rare public sighting for the father of five, as he’s mainly kept a low profile since February, when his family announced that he had been diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia, which can cause slowed movement, stiffness, balance problems and changes in behavior or language.
The “Look Who’s Talking” actor was spotted out and about in Santa Monica, Calif., on March 2, but since then, he’s primarily only been seen in his family’s social media photos.
He retired from acting in March 2022 when he was initially diagnosed with aphasia.
During her appearance on the “Today” show, Heming fought back tears as she opened up about how she and her two daughters are dealing with the “grief and sadness” that comes with watching Willis’ health decline.
“What I’m learning is that dementia is hard,” Heming told “Today” show host Hoda Kotb.
“It’s hard on the person diagnosed. It’s also hard on the family. And that is no different for Bruce or myself or our girls. And when they say that this is a family disease, it really is,” she said.
Heming, who shares daughters Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, 9, with the actor, went on to say that explaining Willis’ illness to their girls wasn’t easy, but they’re “a very honest and open household.”
“And, the most important thing was to be able for us to say what the disease was, explain what it is because when you know what the disease is from a medical standpoint it sort of all makes sense,” she said.
“So it was important that we let them know what it is because, you know, I don’t want there to be any stigma or shame attached to their dad’s diagnosis, or for any form of dementia.”
Following Heming’s interview, Willis’ daughters Scout and Tallulah, whom he shares with ex-wife Demi Moore, celebrated her “bravery” on their Instagram Stories.
“So proud of my family @emmahemingwillis,” Tallulah, 29, told her followers on Monday, while Scout, 32, wrote, “I truly could not be more proud of @emmahemingwillis for being willing to step out into the public eye, (even though it’s terrifying!!!) to share our family’s story in service of spreading awareness about FTD.”
Willis, who was married to Moore from 1987 to 2000, tied the knot with Heming in March 2009. They later renewed their vows in 2019.
Along with Mabel, Evelyn, Scout and Tallulah, Willis also shares daughter Rumer, 34, with Moore.
