"We knew something cognitively was wrong, that was not a secret, but this specific diagnosis and the fact that he wasn't going to act anymore was surprising.". Celebrities who have spoken about the disorder include Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke, who experienced aphasia after having an aneurysm in 2011, while actor Sharon Stone had aphasia after a stroke in 2001. By 1998 he had quit alcohol for good and even though he was yet to score a major movie hit, the actor was so in demand that he was paid a then record 4million to appear in Die Hard. Randall Emmett, co-founder of Emmett/Furla Oasis, who has worked on 20 Willis movies, declined to comment on Willis condition, citing medical privacy laws. An actor who traveled with Willis would feed the star his lines through an earpiece, known in the industry as an earwig, according to several sources. Bruce, now 67, once filed a lawsuit against a production company, claiming he suffered severe injuries in an accident while filming Tears of the Sun in 2002. At age 24, she underwent surgery to seal off the aneurysm. Aphasia can also be caused by a brain tumour or by a serious head injury that occurs, for example, in a car crash. Brain injury can be an invisible illness, and the subject is often taboo. Despite separating in 2000 the pair have remained extremely close. The National Aphasia Association estimates 2 million Americans are affected and nearly 180,000 get the disorder every year. Get our L.A. However, as OK! A brain disorder that leads to problems with speaking, reading and writing has sidelined actor Bruce Willis and drawn attention to a little-known condition that has many possible causes. The source added that Bruces strong relationship with daughters Rumer, 33, and Scout, 30, has been a source of pride in difficult times. Read more explainers here. Our source said: Demi Moore and her small group of friends in Los Angeles have been completely helpful to Bruce and Emma as they make this transition, and it's been very heartwarming to see. Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that can make it hard for a person to speak and understand speech. The longtime action star had taken on some unorthodox roles in a pair of offbeat projects that were paying off nicely.. Scout previouslyrevealedhow Bruce and Demi weretemporarily quarantined togetherduring a podcast. It occurs when a persons blood clots (thrombosis) and platelet counts are both low (thrombocytopenia). It occurs after a stroke or a head injury, but Willis' family did not reveal the cause of his condition. His sensitive performance as child psychologist Malcolm Crowe should have earned him the Oscar nomination the actor never received. In January 2020, actress Lala Kent, a star of Bravos Vanderpump Rules reality show, was cast as the action heros daughter in Hard Kill. In one scene, Kent said, Willis character was scripted to step in and protect her from villains. Bruce Willis isn't the first celebrity male to marry a woman decades younger, but he may not want us to focus on the huge age gap between him and his wife. As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him, the actors daughter Rumer Willis wrote in an Instagram post also signed by her siblings, the actors wife, Emma, and his former wife, Demi Moore. 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. (A producer denied the allegation.). You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Even as his condition advanced, he's proud he's still been able to be 'World's Greatest Dad' and his daughters savored all the time they had with him. Bruce Willis will retire from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia a brain disorder that affects his ability to communicate and has caused problems on the sets of films, his family and. That being interesting, she said, because its more common than Parkinsons, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, yet people arent familiar with it. "As Bruce always says, 'Live it up' and together we plan to do just that.". Aphasia does not affect intelligence. A casting director asked him to take a bartending role in a movie and gradually he progressed from small stage parts to television shows, including Miami Vice. Do you have a story for The Sun Showbiz team? Willis had a large entourage that accompanied him on set, and its members were protective of the actor, according to several filmmakers. Meg James is an award-winning media reporter, writing about the business of entertainment for the Los Angeles Times. Hollywood star Bruce Willis is "stepping away" from his career due to a recent diagnosis of aphasia, . I chose to work very hard to open up other parts of my mind. Foxe, who is a specialist in primary progressive aphasia, says aphasia can cause problems with the ability to converse, articulate complicated words or put together a string of sentences. Right before Jones was set to receive a special award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 2010 for his contributions to film and TV, a representative for the Monty Python star revealed he had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a variant of frontotemporal dementia., This illness affects his ability to communicate and he is no longer able to give interviews, the statement continued. Yes, I am vaccinated. Retirement from acting career at 67. According to the National Aphasia Assn., the condition is an acquired communication disorder that impairs the ability to process language, but does not affect intelligence. CELEBS UNDER FIRE FOR PARTYING AMID COVID-19JUSTIN BIEBER, KENDALL JENNER & MORE! The guy guided Bruce everywhere, one crew member on 2020s Hard Kill said of Eads. The complaint didn't seek specific monetary damages, but noted the star "was required to and did employ physicians and other medical personnel," according to The Guardian. It was his family, Demi Moore, his ex-wife, and present wife, Emma Heming, who made the news public.They revealed that Willis experienced difficulty in speaking, making up sentences, and using words that are unfamiliar, owing to the symptoms of this disease. As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.. To Bruces amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities, the Instagram post read. Common symptoms are being able to speak only in short or incomplete. The Hollywood outsider was one of the few stars in the liberal-leaning entertainment industry to call on fans to vote Republican. I think he's fantastic.". Rumer Willis' mother, the actor Demi Moore, also shared the statement. But the most common cause of aphasia is a stroke and is most likely to affect people aged over 65. Causes can include a stroke, a tumor or a severe brain injury. What effect can it have on people? The Oscar-nominated actor was vocal about how the event affected him emotionally, telling The Times in 1999 that he would pull down the blinds, crawl into bed and cry while experiencing depression. Instead, she forged a career in the 1990s that was every bit as spectacular as his, earning a record 9million for Striptease. Theres nothing like hearing Steven Soderbergh say, Theres a job for you and its actually for you, says Sharon Stone as she settles into a sofa. In early 2022, Bruce Willis' family announced the actor's retirement due to a degenerative disease he was suffering from called aphasia. Thats out of touch, Alec Baldwin and Rust producers sued by crew members over fatal shooting. Call of Duty Despite the hiccup, the father-of-five doesnt seem to be stopping anytime soon, as he has five films in post-production and will start shooting Die Hard 6, also known as McClane, in the near future. Bruce's daughter Rumer, 33, broke the news in an Instagram post on Wednesday. On the advice of his pal Will Smith, he put his jealousy aside after Demi fell for young actor Ashton Kutcher by going to their wedding. He later played a stroke survivor in the 1999 comedy-adventure Diamonds and appeared in a few other movie and TV projects before his death in 2020 at age 103. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. His family explained that he is suffering from "cognitive" issues. But the first time, it was like, No big deal, lets reset, she said. The insider said: Even after Bruce and Demis divorce they are a loving and special family. By Saba Hamedy. His eldest daughter Rumer, 33, wrote on Instagram on Wednesday: Our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities.. At 67-years-old, Bruce Willis, star of the Die Hard films, has announced his retirement from acting after being diagnosed with Aphasia, which he supposedly developed after suffering a stroke caused by a blood clot. His involvement in films even if for a fleeting few minutes helped low-budget independent filmmakers sell their films internationally. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), For his fans, it was a shock to hear Bruce Willis announcing his retirement but it came as no surprise to those who worked with the action movie legend, It wasnt uncommon for Bruce to spend no more than a day on set, with directors doing their best to accommodate his condition, Rumer Willis, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Scout Willis, Emma Heming Willis and Tallulah Willis, Bruce wore an earpiece while appearing in his more recent movies, Bruce Willis with wife Emma Heming Willis, he would be stepping away from the career that meant so much to him, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Times staff writer Nardine Saad contributed to this report. Sony As a result, the Sixth Sense and Die Hard star is stepping away from acting, his loved ones said in a heartfelt statement. Demi is, in many ways, still Bruce's closest and maybe only friend, especially since a lot of the men he came up with within the business have moved onto their own retirements. . During the holiday season, Bruce spent Christmas with Emma and their two daughters, Mabel, 8, and Evelyn, 6. A brain disorder that leads to problems with speaking, reading and writing has sidelined actor Bruce Willis and drawn attention to a little-known condition that has many possible causes. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Bruce Willis's decision to retire from acting might be the result of a stroke. Nine years ago, Bruce Willis seemed to be primed for a career renaissance. Mark Alberts, MD, FAHA. (Phil Faraone/VMN18/Getty Images For Comedy Central) "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. We need to improve in that field., For information and support on aphasia go to www.aphasia.org.au. Alongside a throwback photo of Bruce, Rumer wrote: "ToBrucesamazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. Several entertainers have previously spoken about their experiences with the disorder, which is commonly seen in stroke victims. Willis was meant to deliver a line that served as Kents cue to duck before he fired the weapon at a bad guy. In 2011, country-pop singer and guitarist Campbell announced he had been diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, telling People magazine that he still loved making music and performing. But because of the bond they have through their daughters, Demi has been with Bruce on every step of this journey, starting with his first serious symptoms which only showed up years after he and Demi divorced. But he still has his essence, she said. Others may need to find other ways to communicate. We look forward to continuing our long relationship with you on these and other films to come, read the deal sent to Eads by Emmett, the chief executive of the production company. These individuals questioned whether the actor was fully aware of his surroundings on set, where he was often paid $2 million for two days of work, according to documents viewed by The Times. It seems the dad of five tried to get as many films made while it was still possible, as he has eight unreleased projects in the pipeline. . The statement read: Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. One-third of people who have had a stroke will . After we finished, I said: Im done. While undergoing surgery for congestive heart failure, country singer Travis suffered a stroke at a Texas hospital in 2013. Actors Bruce Willis, left, Emilia Clarke and Sharon Stone have all been diagnosed with aphasia. It's perhaps the worst medical condition for an actor. Its just the aphasia [loss of speech] and getting it out thats the frustrating part.. You would fight for your life, whatever your beliefs.. In recent years, Willis worked primarily for two film production companies: Los Angeles-based Emmett/Furla Oasis and 308 Entertainment Inc., a Vancouver company backed by actor and producer Corey Large, according to IMDb.com. Aphasiais a medical condition resulting in the inability to understand words and communicate clearly, aphasia typically occurs after a stroke or head injury. Die Hard actor, Bruce Willis, has been diagnosed with Aphasia reportedly after suffering a stroke brought on by a blood clot. Bruce had difficulty remembering his lines when starring on Broadway opposite Laurie Metcalf in "Misery" and was even forced to have his dialogue piped into his ear! It wasn't anything major at first, just little things, like needing assistance with lines by using earpieces. This has been an almost eighteen-year journey from first noticing that something was wrong to Bruce finally accepting that he has to transition. A brain infection or Alzheimers disease can trigger it. A stroke or brain injury that strikes the left hemisphere of the brain, . Foxe says that through his research he has discovered that cognitive difficulties in PPA extend beyond language and that, by testing patients in areas other than just language and comprehension skills, such as attention and visuospatial abilities (identifying visual and spatial relationships among objects) they can better understand what variant of aphasia people have and how to treat them. A brain disorder that leads to problems with speaking, reading and writing has sidelined actor Bruce Willis and drawn attention to a little-known condition that has many possible causes. Burns was one of a handful of people who knew Willis was struggling with his memory, but he said he was unaware of the severity of the actors condition until June 2020, when he was directing his first film, Out of Death. It was among 22 films Willis did in four years. Willis, whose decadeslong fame began on TVs Moonlighting and accelerated through films like Pulp Fiction and The Sixth Sense, appeared in dozens of films in the last few years, according to IMDb. It meant Bruces daughters Rumer and Scout, ex-wife Demi Moore and wife Emma Heming were given plenty of time to steal themselves. Bruce Willis' family on Wednesday announced on Instagram that the acclaimed actor is retiring from the profession following a diagnosis of aphasia, raising questions about the communication . After our experience on White Elephant, it was decided as a team that we would not do another, Johnson said. OK! The most common misconception is that people with aphasia have an intelligence problem. He is determined to have aphasia, a disease that is mostly due to a stroke. Legal experts weigh in, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, This isnt Rocky: How Michael B. Jordan seized the reins of a legendary franchise, Why Edward Bergers teen daughter got the last word on All Quiet on the Western Front. The brave decision to get up on stage and act in high school helped him overcome his stutter. Within hours of the statement from his family announcing he would be stepping away from the career that meant so much to him due to his aphasia diagnosis, it emerged that his lines in recent scripts were cut down. Bruce's family says his cognitive abilities have been affected by his diagnosis. Aphasia is a language disorder after a brain injury or brain disease. Some film directors told The Times that they were startled by Willis condition in the last year. Filmmakers found it particularly important that Willis have a fill-in for gun scenes, according to the report. Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with aphasia, the actor's family announced on social media Wednesday. Of course, I do my speech exercises every day. When speaking with someone who has aphasia, she says, its important not to raise your voice and speak quickly but rather slow down your speech, give the person time to respond and have a piece of paper and a pen available where possible. Eads, who began working with Willis as his assistant in the 1990s, served as his on-set handler. But for Demi and the kids, this has been an almost eighteen-year journey from first noticing that something was wrong to Brucefinally accepting that he has to transition into retirement. Thrombosis is the creation of a blood clot that obstructs the normal flow of blood through the body. Bruce Willis, the film star known for his roles in "Die Hard" and "Pulp Fiction," will step away from his decades-long movie career in the wake of a recent aphasia diagnosis.His ex-wife . Mr. Willis's family didn't disclose what led to his diagnosis. People with aphasia may talk in small, broken phrases because they struggle to put the whole sentence together, says Linda Worrall, Emeritus Professor at the University of Queensland. You cant stop an actor., According to the National Aphasia Assn., Douglas once said he learned that we take too many things for granted in this world even speech.. Bruce Willis is stepping away from acting because of Aphasia. Copyright 2023 OK!. Most action scenes, particularly those that involved choreographed gunfire, were filmed using a body double as a substitute for Willis. Though the star's loved ones did not speak about what caused the condition, aphasia- a medical condition resulting in the inability to communicate clearly- may occur after a stroke or head injury. Filmmakers proceeded to quickly film the actors parts, even as Willis questioned where he was: I know why youre here, and I know why youre here, but why am I here? two crew members said he asked aloud. Email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 0207 782 4220 . The image of Bruce Willis, an athletic and wise-cracking movie star, struggling to remember his lines is a tough one. There is little doubt that Bruce had overcome numerous hurdles even before he went on to star in a string of classic movies, including Pulp Fiction, The Sixth Sense, The Fifth Element, Armageddon and Twelve Monkeys. And I can be abrasively direct. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 85206079. Im supposed to think my life is about to end, and then my dad steps in to save the day, Kent said, describing how her back was to Willis in the scene. Bruces ex Demi Moore, 59, has been supportive of him and his current wife Emma, 43, while they adapt to living with the condition, The Sun understands. But the filmmakers who spoke with The Times said they were alarmed by his condition. Insiders revealed the inevitable moment of saying farewell to his glittering career has been a long time coming. Johnson, the director, said he subsequently was offered the opportunity to film two additional movies with Willis, so he discussed the situation with his creative team. A line that served as Kents cue to duck before he fired the weapon at a bad guy with... Of time to steal themselves him overcome his stutter would not do did bruce willis have a stroke, Johnson.... Some film directors told the Times said they were startled by Willis condition in the that. 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