Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, has spoken publicly for the first time about the heartbreaking moment her husband was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The “Die Hard” star, 70, received the devastating news in 2023. In a new sit-down with Diane Sawyer for the ABC special “Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey”, Emma admitted the memory remains raw.
(Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)“I was so panicked, and I just remember hearing it, and just not hearing anything else,” she said in a preview clip. “It was like I was free-falling.”
Life After the Diagnosis
Since learning of his condition, Willis has stepped away from the spotlight to focus on his health and spend time with his loved ones.
Emma, who shares daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, with Willis, described the emotional weight of caregiving. In one moving moment during the interview, Sawyer asked her to finish the sentence, “Love is…”
(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Film at Lincoln Center)Fighting back tears, she replied, “Love is grabbing a tissue. Love is beautiful, it’s grand, it’s unconditional. I’m so lucky to feel the love.”
Emma’s New Book & Family Strength
The interview coincides with the upcoming release of Emma’s first book, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, which will be published September 9, 2025, by HarperCollins UK.
She has previously opened up on social media about the challenges and love that come with her husband’s diagnosis. In December 2024, she reflected on their anniversary:
“Anniversaries used to bring excitement — now, if I’m honest, they stir up all the feelings, leaving a heaviness in my heart and a pit in my stomach… And what is… is unconditional love. I feel blessed to know it, and it’s because of him.”
Bruce Willis’ wife Emma discusses life with Bruce, caregiving & her new book in an exclusive interview which will air on August 266 on ABC.
Family Bonds With Demi Moore & Their Children
(Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)Willis, who first announced his retirement in 2022 following an aphasia diagnosis, remains closely supported by his blended family.
Alongside Mabel and Evelyn, he is father to daughters Rumer, 36, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31, with ex-wife Demi Moore.
(Photo by Joe Corrigan/Getty Images)Despite their divorce, Moore and Emma have remained united in supporting Willis. In a 2024 interview, Moore explained: “We will always be a family, just in a different form. For me, there was never a question. I show up because that’s what you do for the people you love.”
With his loved ones by his side, Bruce Willis continues to face this tough chapter with remarkable strength and a whole lot of love!
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Bruce Willis’ Wife Fights Tears in Emotional Interview About His Dementia Diagnosis