Emma Heming Willis, wife of actor Bruce Willis, has shared her feelings about the difficult moment when her husband was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023. The Die Hard star, now 70, stepped back from his career following this life-changing announcement. Emma spoke candidly about the emotional impact of the diagnosis during an exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer for the ABC special Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey.
I was so panicked, and I just remember hearing it, and just not hearing anything else,
she said in a preview of the interview.
It was like I was free-falling.
Adjusting to Life While Caring for Bruce Willis
Since the diagnosis, Bruce has focused on his health and stepped away from the public eye to spend quality time with family. Emma, who shares two daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, described the emotional challenge and deep love involved in caregiving. When Diane Sawyer asked her to describe what love means to her in this context, Emma fought back tears as she responded:
Love is grabbing a tissue. Love is beautiful, it’s grand, it’s unconditional. I’m so lucky to feel the love.
Emma Heming Willis’ Upcoming Book and Family Resilience
Emma’s interview comes shortly before the release of her debut book, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, which will be published on September 9, 2025, by HarperCollins UK. She has openly expressed the mixture of hardship and love the family experiences on social media. Reflecting on their anniversary in December 2024, Emma wrote:
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.
Emma will also discuss their journey and caregiving in greater depth during the ABC interview airing August 26.
The Supportive Role of Bruce Willis’ Extended Family
Bruce Willis announced his retirement in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia, and since then, he has remained surrounded by family support. With Emma, he has daughters Mabel and Evelyn, and from his previous marriage to Demi Moore, he is also father to Rumer, 36, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31.
Despite their past separation, Demi Moore remains committed to supporting Bruce. She expressed this commitment clearly in a 2024 interview, saying:
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.
This united family presence continues to provide Bruce Willis strength and love as he faces this challenging chapter of his life.
