Bruce Willis’ Daughter Rumer Shares Update on His Dementia Battle

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Rumer Willis is giving insight into Bruce Willis‘ health journey.

Rumer Willis recently answered fan questions on Instagram, and was asked about her father’s health. He’s been battling frontotemporal dementia (FTD) for three years. The Die Hard actor shares Rumer, Scout (34), and Tallulah (31) with his ex-wife, Demi Moore.

I get asked about this a lot, and it’s a difficult question,” Rumer said in a video from November 20th. “The reality is, anyone with frontotemporal dementia isn’t doing well, but he’s managing okay considering the circumstances.”

“The only way I feel like I could answer that in a way that’s like he’s doing great… how do I say this?” she continued. “It’s like those parameters don’t really work anymore in my mind, so this is an interesting question.”

Despite the challenges, including times when her father doesn’t remember her, the 37-year-old is grateful he’s still in her life. She shares a 2-year-old daughter, Louetta Willis, with her ex, Derek Thomas.

She shared that she’s just happy she can still hug him. It means a lot to her that even if he doesn’t recognize her, they can still feel the love between them. Seeing a spark of who he used to be and feeling that connection makes her really happy.

The actress, known for her role in The House Bunny, also shared how happy she is that Bruce has formed a bond with her daughter.

I’m just so thankful I get to visit with Lou and spend time together. It means a lot to feel his love, and to be able to love him back and be with him.

Rumer shared this news after Bruce’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, talked about how their daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, are coping with his health challenges.

I’m just so thankful I get to visit with Lou and spend time with him. It means a lot to feel his love, and to be able to give it back and be there for him.

Rumer Willis shared news following an update from her father Bruce Willis’s wife, Emma Heming Willis. Emma, who shares daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, with Bruce, recently discussed how the girls are coping with his health condition.

Keep reading for more on Bruce’s family tree as his journey continues…

She told Vogue Australia in a recent interview that the children are coping well, considering the circumstances. However, she also shared that it’s been a difficult time for them, as they are deeply grieving and miss their father, especially during important moments in their lives. It’s hard on them that he can’t be there for these milestones.

She acknowledged that children are often able to recover from difficult experiences, but admitted she used to dislike hearing that phrase because it didn’t reflect the depth of their struggles. While she isn’t sure if her own children will fully recover, she finds comfort in the fact that they – and she – are both learning and growing through the process.

Keep reading for more on Bruce’s family tree as his journey continues…

Rising stars Bruce Willis and Demi Moore first met in August 1987 at the premiere of the comedy Stakeout. Interestingly, neither of them appeared in the film, but Demi was there to support her former fiancé, Emilio Estevez, who did star in it.

Bruce had recently gone through a breakup, and Demi, previously married to Freddy Moore from 1981 to 1985, was open to meeting someone new.

In her 2019 memoir, Inside Out, Demi Moore, known as the Ghost star, wrote that they immediately opened up to each other about their strong desire to start a family and have children.

They fell in love quickly and, just months after meeting, spontaneously eloped in Las Vegas while attending a boxing match. The ceremony took place at the Golden Nugget hotel on November 21, 1987. A month later, they celebrated with a larger wedding, where Little Richard officiated the ceremony.

Although their marriage faced significant challenges, as Demi later revealed in her memoir – including Bruce questioning whether he even wanted to be married in 1990 – they publicly appeared to be a perfect Hollywood couple until their separation announcement in 1998.

But they remained a family unit. 

In 2000, Bruce told Rolling Stone that he still loved Demi and they remained very close. They planned to continue raising their three children together and felt as connected as ever. He emphasized their ongoing commitment to their children and their continued friendship.

Demi has said she and Bruce started trying to have a child even before their whirlwind wedding.

It’s possible they succeeded, as their daughter, Rumer Glenn Willis, was born on August 16, 1988, in Paducah, Kentucky, while her father was filming the movie In Country.

Oh my gosh, for years after Rumer was born, all her parents ever showed when they had people over were home movies of her! Seriously, it was always Rumer’s birth videos. It was the main event, the thing everyone came to see. I can just picture it – they were so obsessed with those early moments, and they couldn’t resist sharing them with everyone! It was adorable, honestly.

Demi shared with Vanity Fair in 1991 that Bruce stayed with her throughout all 15 hours of her labor, only leaving briefly once to use the restroom.

Rumer Willis remembers being nine years old when her parents separated, and she’s still amazed by how well they continued to co-parent. In an October 2024 interview with People magazine, she shared that they always made sure she didn’t miss out on family traditions, like vacations, Christmas, or birthdays.

In a 2015 interview with Larry King, she explained that her parents always prioritized family togetherness. They consistently made an effort to include everyone in events and maintain a unified family, rather than letting things become separate, and she believes this had a significant positive effect.

Rumer had a daughter, Louetta Isley Thomas Willis, with musician Derek Richard Thomas on April 18, 2022.

The actress from My Divorce Party revealed that she named her baby after three of her father’s favorite musicians: Louis Armstrong, Etta James, and the Isley Brothers.

“She brings so much happiness to my life,” Demi shared with TopMob News in January 2024. “It’s everything everyone says about being a grandparent – all the fun and joy, plus the nice bonus of getting to relax and get a good night’s sleep!”

I was really sad to hear about Rumer and Derek’s split back in August 2024, but I have to say, I admire how Rumer handled it. She publicly thanked her own parents, and it was so sweet – she said they were amazing examples of how to co-parent successfully, and I totally agree!

Rumer Willis shared in October 2024 that her close friendship with Derek Richard Thomas remains strong. They’ve successfully created a loving and supportive co-parenting dynamic, and both are happy to maintain both that and their friendship for themselves and their daughter, Lou.

Scout LaRue Willis was born on July 20, 1991, in Sun Valley, Idaho. Her parents chose to raise her and her siblings outside of Hollywood during their childhood years.

Not that they didn’t do glitz and glam.

Demi Moore made headlines when she appeared nude and pregnant on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine in August 1991. The photo, taken while she was expecting her second daughter, became incredibly iconic and has been copied many times since.

“Pregnancy agrees with me,” she told the magazine. “I feel comfortable.”

Though she appeared in a few of her parents’ movies when she was younger, Scout focused more on photography and music. After graduating from Brown University, she released her first album, also titled ‘Scout,’ in 2022.

She’s a big fan of movies, and even before Demi Moore received a Golden Globe for The Substance, her daughter, Scout, was already enthusiastically praising her mother’s work in the darkly comedic and unsettling horror film.

Scout shared with Us Weekly in November 2024 that she was incredibly impressed by this woman, seeing her as a role model. She admired not only her beauty and talent but also her bravery in being completely herself. Scout felt it was a gift to witness and believed the woman inspired many people through her courage.

Tallulah Belle Willis was born Feb. 3, 1994, in Hailey, Idaho.

Bruce told Rolling Stone in 2000 that people had offered various explanations for his life, including the idea that he was facing consequences for past actions. He also recognized some found it surprising, given his tough-guy image, that he loved being a father to daughters. “But I’d have three more daughters in a heartbeat,” he said. “They’re amazing.”

When Tallulah was in third grade, her family—the Willis-Moores—moved from Idaho to Los Angeles. This gave her a more Hollywood-centered childhood than her sisters, but it wasn’t a positive experience.

The founder of the clothing brand Wyllis has openly shared her struggles with addiction, starting with getting sober at age 20. She later sought treatment for depression at 25 and then dealt with anorexia. In a 2023 essay for Vogue, she explained that while medication for her ADHD was beneficial, it also reduced her appetite, which made her overly focused on her weight.

Following another stay in treatment, prompted by her father’s declining health – the family had revealed Bruce Willis’s aphasia diagnosis in March 2022 – Tallulah was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

She wrote in Vogue that recovery will likely be a continuous process, but she’s now equipped with the skills to fully engage in all parts of her life, particularly her relationship with her father.

Tallulah shared the happy news of her engagement to musician Justin Acee on Christmas Eve. He proposed at her future mother-in-law’s house in Idaho, making sure someone could film the special moment.

After his divorce from Demi Moore, Bruce Willis didn’t expect to fall in love again. But in 2007, he met Emma Heming, a model originally from Malta, at their shared gym.

In a 2009 interview with W magazine, Bruce Willis admitted that the past decade of being single had been largely unhappy. He described feeling down and initially believed that a relationship wouldn’t solve his problems. He’d tell himself he wasn’t lonely despite being alone, but he now realizes he was just pretending.

He said his life improved significantly after he began dating Emma, who is 23 years younger than him, and seeing her regularly.

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming married on March 21, 2009, in a beach ceremony at their home in Turks and Caicos. Demi Moore, who was married to Ashton Kutcher at the time, and their daughters Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah, were also there. Bruce and Demi later divorced in 2011 after six years of marriage.

On December 29, 2024, Emma will celebrate 17 years of marriage. She recently shared how much “unconditional love” keeps her and her husband strong, even though he’s been dealing with health challenges.

She expressed feeling incredibly grateful for the experience, attributing it all to him. She added that she would repeat it countless times without hesitation.

Following Bruce’s diagnoses of aphasia and later, dementia, Emma started Make Time Wellness, a company creating supplements for brain and prenatal health. She also launched the Make Time Podcast.

In 2023, Emma explained to TopMob News that speaking up is crucial, as taking action, raising awareness, and simply talking about issues are all ways to create positive change.

Emma and Bruce had a daughter, Mabel Ray Willis, on April 1st, 2012, while living in Los Angeles. The family later moved to Bedford Hills, New York.

In 2017, Emma explained to Elle Decor that a great thing about their home is its proximity to the city, offering a balance between urban convenience and peaceful living.

Even though they lived far apart, Scout, Tallulah, and Demi remained close friends with Mabel and were able to celebrate her sixth-grade graduation with her in June 2024.

“We love her!!!” Tallulah commented on Instagram. “7th grade here we go!”

When Evelyn Penn Willis was born on May 5, 2014, Bruce happily announced he now had five daughters.

He told People magazine that they hadn’t found out the baby’s sex until after the birth. He also shared his belief that women should lead, stating, ‘Women are simply more intelligent than men.’

Emma shared with Elle Decor that Bruce was very accommodating, happily making time for their daughters whenever he could.

She explained that he’s become very giving with his time because he’s been a parent for so long and understands his time isn’t just his anymore.

Emma described her family as traditional because they prioritize family above all else. They focus on teaching their children good manners, grace, and the value of education. However, they also encourage their kids to be themselves and express their individuality, while still setting reasonable boundaries. Importantly, they work hard to avoid raising entitled children, striving for a healthy balance in their parenting approach.

Emma has been honest with Mabel and Evelyn about their father’s health, but she’s also making an effort to create positive experiences for them. She’s been sharing videos from their recent trip to Paris and decorating for Christmas at home to bring some joy to their lives.

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2025-11-21 17:50