A clip showing Bruce Willis declaring that “nothing will stop him” has resurfaced on social media, after the actor’s family revealed that he has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The video features the 67-year-old Die Hard star speaking at his Comedy Central roast in 2018, joking that he’s defeated all sorts of threats, from “terrorists to divorce lawyers to male pattern baldness.”
In the video, Bruce takes the podium after being jokingly mocked by a host of friends and famous co-stars before alluding to his own acting roles and marital problems.
On Thursday, Bruce’s family shared a statement revealing that he had been diagnosed with dementia, less than a year after he retired from acting due to his battle with the brain disorder aphasia.
FTD affects the lobes of the brain behind the forehead, which deal with behaviour, problem solving, planning and emotions, with symptoms including personality changes, obsessive behavior and speech difficulties.
Challenging! A clip showing Bruce Willis declaring that “nothing stops him” has resurfaced after the actor’s family revealed that he has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
Sad news: On Thursday, Bruce’s family shared a statement revealing that he had been diagnosed with dementia, less than a year after he retired from acting due to his battle with aphasia.
In the clip, Bruce says: “Nothing can stop me, I’ve been attacked by terrorists, asteroids, movie critics, music critics, divorce lawyers, male pattern baldness and none of it stopped me because I’m still Bruce f*cking Willis .
The statement draws a standing ovation from the audience and celebrity guests, and Bruce then takes a slight bow.
Several fans reposted the clip on Twitter after Bruce’s FTD diagnosis was revealed.
The Hollywood icon retired from acting last year as she began her fight against the disease that caused her language skills to deteriorate, and now her condition has “progressed” according to a joint statement from her family.
Willis’ wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore and five daughters shared their diagnosis in a joint statement posted on the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website, which read: ‘Our family wanted to begin by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible amount of love, support and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce’s original diagnosis.
“In that spirit, we wanted to provide you with an update on our loving husband, father, and friend as we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing.
“Since we announced Bruce’s aphasia diagnosis in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD).
“Unfortunately, the challenges with communication are just one symptom of the illness Bruce is facing. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.
Legendary! The video shows Bruce speaking at his 2018 Comedy Central roast, joking that he’s defeated all sorts of threats, from “terrorists to divorce lawyers to male pattern baldness.”
Sure! After declaring that it’s ‘Bruce fucking Willis!’ draws a standing ovation from the audience and celebrity guests, and Bruce then takes a slight bow
‘FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and it can affect anyone. For people under the age of 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because it can take years to be diagnosed, FTD is likely much more common than we know.
‘Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the coming years. As Bruce’s condition progresses, we hope that the media attention can be focused on shedding light on this disease that needs much more awareness and research.
‘Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others and raise awareness about important issues both in public and in private.
“We know in our hearts that if I could today, I would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connection to those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it affects so many people and their families.
‘Ours is just one family with a loved one suffering from FTD, and we encourage others dealing with it to seek out the wealth of information and support available through AFTD (@theaftd, theaftd.org).
‘And for those of you who have been lucky enough not to have any personal experience with FTD, we hope you’ll take the time to learn about it and support AFTD’s mission in any way you can.
‘Bruce has always found joy in life and has helped everyone he meets to do the same. It has meant that the world sees that sense of caring resonating with him and with all of us.
“We have been so touched by the love that everyone has shared for our dear husband, father and friend during this difficult time. His continued compassion, understanding and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible.’
The statement was signed by Emma, Demi, and their daughters Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, and Evelyn.
Willis shares Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29, with Moore, 60, whom he was married from 1987 to 2000. He also has two daughters, Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8, with wife Emma, 44.
Scout posted on her Instagram Stories a few hours after the announcement was made: “I feel emotionally drained and a little overwhelmed, but also in awe of the love so many people have for my dad.”
Tallulah shared her sister’s story and agreed: “Second to this scouter, feeling the abundant love for our boy and our family.”
Rumer then shared Tallulah’s post and collaborated: “I third this Scouter and Buusk feeling so deeply grateful and in awe of the love for us and our sweet Daddio.”
FTD occurs when nerve cells in the lobes behind the forehead die and the pathways that connect them change.
The left temporal lobe is involved in the meaning of words and the names of objects. The right recognizes familiar faces and objects.
Bruce’s blended family issued a joint statement in late March announcing that he would “walk away from the career that has meant so much to him.”
The statement revealed that he “has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is affecting his cognitive abilities.”
News: In a joint statement, Bruce’s family said the star’s condition had ‘progressed’ after he was forced to retire from acting last year when he was diagnosed with aphasia.