Fans of Bruce Willis received devastating news on Wednesday morning after learning the actor has been diagnosed with aphasia. In a heartfelt post shared by his family , it was announced that Bruce will be stepping down from acting as his cognitive brain functions have been compromised.
Fans quickly took to social media to send messages of love to Bruce and the entire Willis family.
Bruce Willis is, without a doubt, one of the most beloved and recognizable actors in Hollywood.
Best known for his starring roles in cult-classic films like Die Hard , Pulp Fiction, and Armageddon, Bruce is nothing short of a household name.
In a career that has spread over nearly 5 decades, it’s no wonder everyone and their mother is a Bruce Willis fan.
Sadly, just one week after the actor’s 67th birthday, it has been announced that the “Unbreakable” star is retiring from Hollywood.
In a heartbreaking post shared by Bruce’s family members on Wednesday, fans were informed of the actor’s diagnosis.
The same post was shared amongst the actor’s family including Bruce’s daughters Rumer, Scott, Tallulah, and their mother Demi, as well as Bruce’s current wife Emma.
Alongside a photo of Bruce smiling in a white robe and sunglasses, the statement began:
“To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities.”
According to HopkinsMedicine.org, aphasia is a disorder caused by severe trauma or damage to a specific part of the brain that controls “language expression and comprehension.”
“Aphasia leaves a person unable to communicate effectively with others,” the website reads .
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HopkinsMedicine also sites that aphasia can be brought on by a variety of physical ailments.
These include brain injury, stroke, brain tumor, dementia, or infection.
At the time of the post, the Die Hard actor’s family did not go into detail.
The statement continued: “As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”
“This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support.”
“We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him.”
The statement concluded with a message of hope and kindness.
“As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up’ and together we plan to do just that,” they concluded, with a sign-off from wife Emma, ex-wife Demi and daughters Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, & Evelyn.
Fans soon took to social media to give their thoughts to the Willis family.
With over 100 films under his belt, it’s safe to say everyone has at least one Bruce film they can safely call their favorite film of all time.
For me, it’s got to be Die Hard — but he’s truly been outstanding in every role I’ve seen him in!
Some fans also began sharing the warning signs of aphasia to help educate others.
We’re thinking of Bruce and his entire family as he continues to fight this disorder
To learn more about aphasia, click here .
