Moonlighting creator Glenn Gordon Caron is talking about Bruce Willis’ condition after being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia earlier this year. Caron, 69, told the New York Post that he tries to visit the Die Hard actor every month. He also keeps in touch with Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, and his three older children.
Caron emphasized his efforts to remain a part of Bruce Willis’ life
“I’m not always quite that good but I try and I do talk to him and his wife, and I have a casual relationship with his three older children,” Caron told the outlet. “I have tried very hard to stay in his life.”
“The thing that makes [his disease] so mind-blowing is [that] if you’ve ever spent time with Bruce Willis, there is no one who had any more joie de vivre [joy of living] than he,” the director continued. “He loved life and … just adored waking up every morning and trying to live life to its fullest.”
He expressed astonishment at how lively and joyful Willis was before his diagnosis. Describing him as someone who cherished life and approached each day with enthusiasm. Caron noted the drastic change caused by frontotemporal dementia. Which has rendered Willis unable to communicate effectively, likening it to seeing life through a screen door. Despite this, Caron mentioned that Willis still recognizes him during visits.
Things have become increasingly difficult for the family and close friends
Caron highlighted the difficulty of the situation, noting that while Willis may recognize him initially, his ability to communicate and engage in activities like reading has significantly declined. However, Caron stressed that Willis’ essence remains unchanged, even though the joy for life seems diminished.
“My sense is the first one to three minutes he knows who I am,” he said. “He’s not verbal; he used to be a voracious reader — he didn’t want anyone to know that — and he’s not reading now. All those language skills are no longer available to him, and yet he’s still Bruce. When you’re with him you know that he’s Bruce and you’re grateful that he’s there,” he noted, “but the joie de vivre is gone.”
Emma Willis spoke out on her husband’s difficulties
Emma Heming Willis, 45, appeared on the Today show last month, discussing the challenges of dealing with her husband’s condition. She expressed uncertainty about whether Willis fully comprehends his health situation, emphasizing the emotional toll it takes on both the person diagnosed and their family.
“I’m learning that dementia is hard,” Emma said. “It’s hard on the person diagnosed. It’s also hard on the family. And that is no different for Bruce, myself, or our girls. When they say that this is a family disease, it is.”
What exactly is Frontotemporal Dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia is a group of brain disorders affecting the frontal and temporal lobes, leading to symptoms such as speech issues, emotional changes, and personality alterations. Diagnosis can be challenging, often leading to misdiagnoses, including depression or other neurological conditions.
“Most doctors aren’t familiar with it, so it can take almost 4 years for people to get diagnosed on average,” Dickinson said. Along the way, they approve “many misdiagnoses” including “depression, bipolar disease, Alzheimer’s, or even someone with some of the movement diseases” like “Parkinson’s or ALS.”
First diagnosed in 2022, Bruce Willis’ dementia has progressed
Bruce Willis’ public revelation of his health struggles began in March 2022 with a diagnosis of aphasia, a language disorder. However, in February, Emma disclosed that his condition had progressed to frontotemporal dementia. Which typically worsens over time and can affect individuals as young as 40 years old.
Emma acknowledged the bittersweet nature of coming to terms with Willis’ diagnosis and finding some comfort in understanding the situation but still experiencing the pain it brings. Acceptance, she noted, does not lessen the emotional burden but provides some solace in knowing what they are facing.
