Rumer Willis, the eldest daughter of action star Bruce Willis and actress Demi Moore, says her father is “great” as she continues to battle dementia.
“Yes yes I'm fine. Thank you so much for asking,” Rumer Willis told Fox News Digital at the Wednesday night premiere of her new film, “My Divorce Party,” during the 24th Beverly Hills Film Festival.
The “Empire” and “Sorority Row” star said sharing updates about her father’s health journey has been a positive experience for her family members, who have supported the “Die Hard” and “Armageddon” actor since which announced in March 2022 that it would do so. He steps away from his career after battling aphasia, a cognitive disorder that affects his ability to communicate.
“I think, for me, through this experience, what has been incredible is that my dad is so loved, and that has been very evident in the transparency with which we have been sharing,” his 35-year-old daughter said.
“And I think if there is some way of sharing our experience that brings hope (whatever comes up as a family) that can have an effect and bring some kind of hope and comfort to someone else who is experiencing that, then for me, that that's all”.
Willis' health had been a concern for many who worked with the prolific actor in his later career, with some wondering if the action star was fully aware of his surroundings on set.
Some described heartbreaking scenes in which Willis grappled with his loss of mental acuity and his inability to remember his dialogue, The Times previously reported. In February 2023, Willis' family announced that he had been more specifically diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a degenerative brain disease that currently has no cure.
Rumer Willis celebrated her father's 69th birthday in March with photos of her baby daughter Louetta with her international film and TV star grandfather, who plays with his granddaughter in the sweet image.
“With baby Lou,” she wrote on Instagram Stories, adding, “Lou loves you so much.”
In March, the “Pulp Fiction” star's wife, Emma Heming, who has shared glimpses of her new role as her husband's caregiver, publicly disputed a headline that claimed Willis “felt no more joy” after his diagnosis.
“I can tell you that's far from the truth, okay?” he explained in an Instagram Reel at the time. “I need society and whoever writes these stupid headlines to stop scaring people. Stop scaring people into thinking that once they receive a diagnosis of some neurocognitive disease, that's it. It's over.”
And he added: “It's the complete opposite of that.”
Heming, 45, said Sunday that while she and her loved ones are experiencing mixed emotions about her husband's health, this chapter of Willis's care “is full… of love, connection, it's full of joy, it's Full of happiness”.
That same month, the model-turned-businesswoman celebrated her 15th wedding anniversary with the actor, noting that she could either “wallow in the pain” or “celebrate” that day.
“I call this the 'remarkable reframing,'” she wrote on Instagram, posting a photo of Willis kissing her. “What I know is that there is a lot to celebrate. Our togetherness and connection are probably stronger than ever. We have two bright, fun, healthy daughters. We have a family unit that is based on mutual respect and admiration. And simply, I love and adore the man I married. I am very proud of what we have and continue to create. Happy crystal anniversary to us!
Willis' close-knit family has been at the forefront of his health fight, coming together to support the actor and provide updates to the public for years. He and his ex-wife Moore share daughters Rumer, Scout, 32, and Tallulah, 30. He and Heming, whom he married in 2009, share daughters, Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, 9.
In January, Moore, who was married to “The Expendables” actor from 1987 to 2000, was candid about how she copes with her condition and encouraged people who care for loved ones with dementia to “meet them where they are.”
“When you let go of who they have been or who you think they are [were] or who even you would like them to be,” said the “GI Jane” and “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans” on SiriusXM’s “Radio And,” “then you can really stay in the present and take in the joy and love that is present and there for all that they are, not all that they are not.”
Times staff writer Alexandra Del Rosario contributed to this report.
