LOS ANGELES: Bruce Willis, the star of the "Die Hard" franchise and dozens of other action movies, will retire from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a disease that has hampered his "cognitive abilities," his family said on Wednesday.
Willis, 67, rose to fame in the 1980s comedy-drama TV series "Moonlighting," and has appeared in about 100 films across his four-decade career, garnering acclaim for his roles in "Pulp Fiction" and "The Sixth Sense," and winning a Golden Globe Award and two Emmys.
But Willis is perhaps best known for playing the tough-as-nails New York cop who pursued bad guys in the five "Die Hard" movies, released from 1988 to 2013.
"This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support," his family said in a statement.
Willis and actress Demi Moore were one of Hollywood's most high-profile celebrity couples in the 1990s until their divorce in 2000, but they remained close after the break-up. He is currently married to model and actress Emma Heming and is father to a total of five children with both women.
"We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him," said the statement, which was signed by the actor's family and shared on Instagram by Demi Moore and their daughter Rumer.
Aphasia is a disorder most commonly caused by a stroke that can also stem from head trauma or, in rare cases, from neurological disease, said Brenda Rapp, a professor of cognitive science at Johns Hopkins University. Symptoms vary widely and can affect speech, comprehension and reading ability, Rapp said in a telephone interview. In some instances, aphasia can be treated with speech therapy.
Willis had been especially active in recent years. He appeared in eight movies released in 2021 alone, none of which were critically acclaimed.
The satirical Razzie film awards gave Willis his own special category this year, nominating him eight times for "Worst Performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 Movie." The one called "Cosmic Sin" was awarded the Razzie on Saturday.
Larry Gordon, producer of the first "Die Hard" movie and its 1990 sequel, said he was saddened by the news of Willis' condition, telling the Hollywood Reporter that the actor was "the consummate pro and a gutsy guy."
"Grace and guts! Love to you all!," actor Jamie Lee Curtis wrote on Demi Moore's Instagram account beneath a picture of Willis and the family statement.
On social media, his fans shared their feelings of sadness and shock after news of his diagnosis broke, and many of them paid tribute to Willis.
"His work has meant more to me than I could ever put into words," wrote a fan with the Twitter handle Cody Leach. "If this is in fact the end of your acting career, all I can say is thank you."
Over the course of his career, the Hollywood veteran has appeared in films grossing more than $2.5 billion, according to online database IMDB. In 2006, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Los Angeles landmark honoring legends of film, television and music.
Born on a U.S. military base in Germany in 1955, Willis was raised in New Jersey. After moving to New York to pursue an acting career, he appeared in off-Broadway productions and landed a few minor roles before getting his big break playing the wise-cracking private detective David Addison in "Moonlighting."
Reuters
Thu Mar 31 2022
Bruce Willis, 67, rose to fame in the 1980s comedy-drama TV series "Moonlighting," and has appeared in about 100 films across his four-decade career. - REUTERS
Malaysia sedia jalin kerjasama rapat dengan Arab Saudi dalam bidang tenaga diperbaharui
Malaysia sedia menjalin kerjasama rapat dengan Arab Saudi bagi meneroka potensi usaha sama serta bertukar-tukar ilmu dan pengalaman dalam bidang tenaga diperbaharui.
Kumpulan pro-ganja di Thailand bertemu Menteri Kesihatan
Kumpulan pro-ganja di Thailand berkumpul di Kementerian Kesihatan pada Khamis untuk membantah rancangan kerajaan menyenaraikan semula ganja sebagai dadah.
Jiran suspek bimbang, terkejut
Penduduk yang tinggal di kawasan kejiranan suspek yang menembak Perdana Menteri Slovakia, Robert Fico, mengakui bimbang dan terkejut, sehari selepas cubaan membunuh yang mendedahkan perpecahan politik di negara itu.
PM Slovakia ditembak: Jiran suspek bimbang, terkejut
Penduduk yang tinggal di kawasan kejiranan suspek yang menembak Perdana Menteri Slovakia, Robert Fico, mengakui bimbang dan terkejut, sehari selepas cubaan membunuh yang mendedahkan perpecahan politik di negara itu.
[TERKINI] Suspek sudah didakwa atas cubaan membunuh
Penembak itu bertindak bersendirian dan pernah mengambil bahagian dalam protes antikerajaan.
Cabaran penuhi citarasa jemaah dalam peraturan ketat Arab Saudi
Cabaran untuk menepati peraturan dan undang-undang kerajaan Arab Saudi yang lebih ketat berbanding di Malaysia antara kekangan utama buat petugas katering dalam operasi haji musim 1445M/2024 dalam menyediakan 2 juta pek makanan buat jemaah.
Wanita warga emas maut dilanggar kereta mengundur
Seorang wanita warga emas meninggal dunia dilanggar keretanya sendiri yang bergerak dalam keadaan mengundur, dipercayai akibat terlupa menarik brek tangan.
Perodua Masters: Hampir 300 pemain bakal berentap dalam edisi 2024
Biarpun pusingan kelayakan Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 sudah berakhir, namun kejohanan itu tetap berjaya menarik penyertaan bintang dalam Top10 ranking dunia.
Sistem pendidikan harus di depan, terajui digitalisasi
Apa yang dibimbangi ketika ini ialah jika sistem pendidikan mampu bergerak seiring dengan kepesatan pembangunan khususnya dalam teknologi digital.
Lebih 1,000 individu ditahan di Kelantan
Polis menahan sejumlah 1,488 individu atas pelbagai kesalahan dadah dalam Operasi Tapis Bersepadu di seluruh Kelantan bagi tempoh 29 April hingga 15 Mei.
Ucapan pertama pelakon Bruce Willis selepas disahkan menghidap dementia
Bruce Willis Willis buat pertama kalinya dilihat bersuara selepas khabar dirinya nyanyuk diketahui umum.
"Selamat hari lahir Bruce Willis, kamu disayangi ramai"
Emma Heming mengakui sedih dengan keadaan Bruce Willis, Demi Moore pula titip ucapan penuh kasih sayang buat bekas suami.
'Tolong jangan jerit' - Isteri Bruce Willis rayu paparazzi hormati keadaan suami
Isteri kepada aktor terkenal Bruce Willis, Emma Heming Willis dilaporkan merayu kepada sekumpulan paparazi yang bertindak mengejar suaminya, baru-baru ini.
Hidap demensia, keluarga pastikan Bruce Willis terus aktif
Selepas disahkan menghidap penyakit demensia, keluarga Bruce Willis bertekad untuk memastikan pelakon itu terus aktif.
Bruce Willis disahkan menghidap demensia
Pelakon berusia 67 tahun itu sebelum ini disahkan menghidap afasia yang menyebabkan kesukaran bercakap pada musim bunga tahun lalu.
Penganjur anugerah Razzie tarik balik 'anugerah' untuk Bruce Willis
Penganjur berkata adalah tidak wajar untuk memberikan anugerah itu kepada mereka yang mempunyai masalah kesihatan.
Adakah tiga orang gila ini sebenarnya adiwira?
Tiga lelaki misteri dipertemukan di sebuah rumah sakit mental, namun seorang pakar psikiatri yakin mereka tidak gila tetapi sebenarnya adiwira.
Rumah Bruce Willis di Central Park terjual dengan harga RM69 juta
Hanya beberapa bulan sahaja di pasaran, apartmen mewah Bruce Willis dan isterinya Emma berjaya terjual dengan harga RM69 juta.
G.I Joe cecah kutipan box office $41.2 juta
Filem susulan G.I. Joe: Retaliation mendahului kutipan box office di Amerika Utara pada hujung minggu pertama tayangannya dengan memperoleh $41.2 juta semalam.
Bruce Willis terima pingat di Perancis
Atas sumbangannya kepada dunia sinema, Bruce Willis dikurniakan pingat "Commander of the Arts" di Paris.