Frail Bruce Willis seen in rare snaps as actor celebrates Thanksgiving with family amid dementia battle

The frail Bruce Willis was spotted in a rare snap as he celebrated Thanksgiving with his family on Thursday amid his battle with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

The retired actor, 69, was seen smiling at his daughter Scout, 33, as he sat on a sofa, while daughter Tallulah, 30, looked up at him from the floor. He shares the girls and eldest daughter Rumer, 36, with ex-wife Demi Moore, 63.

Die Hard star Willis clutched a ‘Best Dad Ever’ plaque as Scout hugged him, before the pair touched noses.

Tallulah captioned the snap: “Grateful.”

The Die Hard star’s family announced his diagnosis (FTD) in February 2023, shortly after he retired from acting due to his struggle with a brain condition known as aphasia – which affects speech and language comprehension.

Willis has since received an outpouring of love and support from loved ones and family members amid his health struggles.

Last October, his wife Emma Heming opened up about his battle with dementia and said she is not “protecting” her daughters from the diagnosis.

Bruce tied the knot with Heming in 2009 – and the couple share two daughters: Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, 10.

He is also dad to Rumer, 36, Scout, 33, and Tallulah, 30 – who he welcomed with ex-wife Demi Moore.

During an interview with City and country magazineHeming explained, “This disease is misdiagnosed, overlooked, misunderstood.”

“So finally getting a diagnosis was critical so I could learn what frontotemporal dementia is and I could raise our children.”

Emma added: “I never tried to soften anything for them. They grew up while Bruce deteriorated over the years. I’m not trying to protect them from it.’

“What I learned from our therapist is that when children ask questions, they are willing to know the answer. If we could see that Bruce was struggling, I would discuss it with the children so they could understand, but this disease is chronic, progressive and terminal.”

Heming told the outlet that their children don’t tend “to talk to them about the terminal side of this, nor have they asked about it.”

The retired actor, 69, was seen smiling at his daughter Scout, 33, as he sat on a sofa, while daughter Tallulah, 30, looked up at him from the floor.

The Die Hard star’s family announced his diagnosis (FTD) in February 2023, shortly after he retired from acting due to his struggle with a brain condition known as aphasia – which affects speech and language comprehension.

Last October, his wife Emma Heming opened up about his battle with dementia, saying she isn’t “protecting” their two daughters from the diagnosis.

The actor is dad to Mabel Ray, 12, (L) and Evelyn, 10, with wife Emma

However, she said Mabel and Evelyn “know daddy isn’t going to get better.”

Emma said she wouldn’t allow ‘FTD to bring down our entire family. Bruce wouldn’t want that,” adding that she hopes to help the “next family out there.”

While speaking to the publication, she also revealed that the return of Bruce’s childhood stuttering initially masked his cognitive decline before he was diagnosed with dementia.

“When his language started to change, it changed [seemed like it] it was just part of a stutter, it was just Bruce.”

She then admitted, “Never in a million years would I think it would be a form of dementia for someone so young.”

Amid his health struggles, his loved ones have been giving fans constant updates, including Demi Moore.

Last month, The Substance actress said he was in “stable” condition while attending the 2024 Hamptons International Film Festival in New York.

“You know, I’ve said this before. The disease is what the disease is. And I think you have to have a deep acceptance of what that is. But where he is now, he is stable,” she said during a panel, per People.

“What I always encourage is to just meet them where they are. If you hold on to what was, I think it’s a losing game.’

Moore added, “But when you come and meet them where they are, there is great beauty and sweetness.”

And amid his battle with aphasia and dementia, his daughter Tallulah spoke through Today in September that the retired actor is surrounded by “so much love.”

‘He is doing stable, which is good in this situation. And it’s hard; there are painful days – but there is so much love.”

She continued, “And it really showed me that I can’t take any moment for granted and I really think we would be best friends. I really think he’s very proud of me.’

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

The actor’s family revealed on Instagram in March 2022 that he retired from acting after his aphasia diagnosis

In February, Bruce’s family released a statement on Instagram to announce his FTD diagnosis.

They explained at the time that it is the ‘most common form of dementia’, but added that there are currently ‘no treatments for the disease’.

‘As Bruce’s condition progresses, we hope that all media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease, which requires much more awareness and research.’

“Bruce has always believed in using his voice in the world to help others and raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately,” she added.

“We know in our hearts that if he could today, he would want to respond by bringing global attention and solidarity to those who also face this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families.’