Bruce Willis seen on rare outing as he takes a car ride with bodyguards in LA amid aphasia and dementia battle

Bruce Willis was photographed taking a drive on a hot Sunday in Studio City, California, as the veteran actor continues to battle health issues with aphasia and dementia.

The 69-year-old Pulp Fiction actor was in the passenger seat of a vehicle, wearing a black cap and a collared shirt with horizontal gray stripes.

The Last Boy Scout star was spotted peering into the vehicle’s side mirror during a continuing heat wave in Southern California, as temperatures in Studio City reached 107 degrees on Sunday, according to AccuWeather.

The Sixth Sense actor is the father of five daughters: Mabel Ray, 12, and Evelyn, 10, with his wife Emma Heming Willis, 46; and Rumer, 36, Scout, 33, and Tallulah, 30, with ex-wife Demi Moore, 61.

Willis was accompanied by bodyguards during the daytime outing, according to witnesses, which came weeks after Rumer posted about him on Instagram Stories.

In the August 22 post, Rumer shared a photo of herself holding her father’s hand as she answered a question about how the actor is doing despite his health issues.

Rumer said, “He’s amazing. I love him so much. Thank you.”

In May, Rumer said on the Today show that things were going ‘well’ with her father and that he had a good relationship with her one-year-old daughter Louetta, whom she has with her ex Derek Richard Thomas.

“I saw him just before I left for New York,” she said, “and Lou just started walking a little bit, and she walked up to him, and it was so sweet.”

“It’s so nice because I feel like my dad is just – he’s a girl dad, through and through. It almost unlocks that kind of grandchild, girl dad thing. He’s so sweet to her.”

Rumer said during her appearance that she and her family members have been open about the family’s health problem in the hopes of educating others in similar circumstances.

“Our vulnerability and transparency as a family about what he’s going through is so important,” she said, “because if it can have an impact on another family who is struggling in any way with something like this, or if it can bring more attention to the disease in the hopes of finding a cure or something else that can help others, then I think that’s really important.”

The Die Hard actor went public with his health issues more than two years ago, after family members including his daughters, wife and ex-wife released a joint statement via Instagram on March 30, 2022, announcing that he has aphasia.

The Pulp Fiction actor was sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle, wearing a black cap and a collared shirt with horizontal gray stripes

The Last Boy Scout star was spotted peering into the vehicle’s side mirror during a sustained heat wave in Southern California

In the August 22 post, Rumer shared a photo of herself holding her father’s hand while answering a question about how the actor was doing amid his health issues

Willis and his wife Emma Heming Willis were photographed embracing last June

They said the Hollywood icon “has some health issues and was recently diagnosed with aphasia, which affects his cognitive abilities.

‘As a result, and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping back from the career that has meant so much to him.

‘This is a very difficult time for our family and we are so grateful for your continued love, compassion and support.

They continued, “We’re going through this as a strong family unit and wanted to include his fans because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him. As Bruce always says, ‘Give it life,’ and together we plan to do just that.”

The family subsequently released a statement on February 16, 2023, announcing that Willis had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The family called it “the most common form of dementia” and noted that there are “currently no treatments for the disease.”

“As Bruce’s condition continues to worsen, we hope that all media attention can be focused on highlighting this disease that needs much more awareness and research,” the family said. “Bruce has always believed in using his voice in the world to help others and raise awareness of important issues, both publicly and privately.

“We know in our hearts that if he could today, he would want to raise awareness worldwide and connect with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and the impact it has on so many people and their families.

The Mayo Clinic defines aphasia as “a condition that affects your ability to communicate” and that “can affect your speech, as well as the way you write and understand both spoken and written language.”

The actor is father to Mabel Ray, 12, (left) and Evelyn, 10, with his wife Emma

Rumer Willis, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Scout Willis, Emma Heming Willis and Tallulah Willis were photographed at an event in LA on September 23, 2019

The actor’s family announced on Instagram in March 2022 that he was retiring from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia.

The actor’s family has not disclosed what is causing his aphasia, which could have several possible causes.

The condition can occur after a head injury or stroke, but can also be a precursor to a brain tumor or Alzheimer’s disease.

Patients suffering from this condition usually receive speech therapy and are taught how to communicate nonverbally.