Bruce Willis' daughter shares update on dad: 'He's happy'

Bruce Willis ’ daughter, Rumer Willis, gave a positive update on her father’s battle with frontotemporal dementia this week.

Speaking to People in a piece published Tuesday, she described what it has been like watching the "Die Hard" legend live with the disease." "What’s been interesting having a family member with dementia, it’s like, he’s happy. As well as someone could be doing, given the circumstances, he’s doing well," she told the outlet.

The actor, 71, also still clearly feels connected to the people he loves. "When I get to see him, he sees me and [daughter] Louetta and he starts smiling. So, there’s so much love and joy and tenderness that still exists there. And in terms of that, I would say that’s a huge win," Rumer said, adding, "And the fact that we still have him, you know?"

She continued to express gratitude for the time she gets to spend with him.

"The most important thing for me is that I’m so grateful that I have this time with him for however many years it may be," she said. "I’m grateful that he seems generally wonderful and, given all of the givens of our situation, that our family is just so loving and together."

In September 2025, Bruce’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, told Today.com that his dementia had affected his ability to communicate and understand others. "For us, our communication is different now, but our connection remains very much intact," she explained.

Two months later, Rumer told her followers during an Instagram Q&A that her father was "doing OK, in terms of somebody who’s dealing with frontotemporal dementia." However, she noted that the harsh truth was that "anybody with FTD is not doing great."

Bruce stepped away from acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia. His family revealed the following year that he was suffering from frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.

Following his diagnosis, Heming Willis became his primary caregiver, though she shared in August at Endwell Health 2025 via the New York Post, that Bruce now lives in a nearby residence where he receives round-the-clock care.

She described the choice as necessary for the family’s safety and well-being, saying, "This is the best decision for our family. It was the safest one. And our family is now, in essence, thriving."