A clip of Bruce Willis declaring that “nothing will hold him down” has resurfaced on social media after the actor’s family revealed he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The video shows the Die Hard star, 67, speaking at his Comedy Central roast in 2018, and joked he’d defeated every possible threat, from “terrorists to divorce lawyers to male baldness.”
In the video, Bruce takes the podium after being playfully mocked by a host of famous friends and co-stars, before alluding to his own acting roles and marital woes.
On Thursday, Bruce’s family shared a statement showing he was diagnosed with dementia less than a year after he retired from acting due to his battle with a brain disorder, aphasia.
FTD affects the lobes of the brain behind the forehead that deal with behavior, problem-solving, planning, and emotions — with symptoms such as personality changes, obsessive behavior, and difficulty speaking.
defiant! A clip of Bruce Willis declaring that “nothing is holding him down” has resurfaced after the actor’s family revealed he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia
Sad news: On Thursday, Bruce’s family shared a statement showing he was diagnosed with dementia less than a year after he retired from acting due to his battle with aphasia
In the clip, Bruce says: “Nothing can hold me down, I’ve been attacked by terrorists, asteroids, film critics, music critics, divorce attorneys, male pattern baldness and none of that stopped me because I’m still Bruce. Damn Willis.’
The statement elicits a big cheer from the audience and celebrity guests, whereupon Bruce bows slightly.
The clip was reposted by several fans on Twitter after Bruce’s FTD diagnosis was revealed.
The Hollywood icon retired from acting last year as he began his battle with the illness that was causing his language skills to deteriorate – and now his condition is ‘progressive’, according to a joint statement from his family.
Willis’ wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore and five daughters shared his diagnosis in a joint statement posted to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website, which read, “Our family first wanted our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of Expressing love , support and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce’s original diagnosis.
“With that in mind, we wanted to give you an update on our beloved husband, father and friend as we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing.
“Since we announced Bruce’s aphasia diagnosis in Spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has improved and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD).
“Unfortunately, communication difficulties are just a symptom of the illness Bruce is facing. While it’s painful, it’s a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.
Legendary! The video shows Bruce speaking at his 2018 Comedy Central roast and jokes he’s defeated every possible threat, from “terrorists to divorce lawyers to male pattern baldness.”
Optimistic! After declaring he was ‘Bruce f*****g Willis!’ He triggers a huge cheer from the audience and the celebrity guests, whereupon Bruce bows slightly
“FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can affect anyone. In people under the age of 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and since it can take years to diagnose, FTD is probably much more common than we know.
“Today, there are no treatment options for the disease, a reality that we hope will change in the years to come. As Bruce’s condition progresses, we hope media attention can focus on shedding light on this disease, which requires much more awareness and research.
“Bruce has always believed in using his voice in the world to help others and raise awareness of important issues both publicly and privately.
“We know in our hearts that if he could today, he would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connection to those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it affects so many people and their families.
“Ours is just a family with a loved one suffering from FTD and we encourage others affected by it to seek the wealth of information and support that is available through AFTD (@theaftd, theaftd.org).
“And for those of you who have been fortunate enough not to have had personal experience with FTD, we hope that you will take the time to learn more about it and support AFTD’s mission in any way you can.
“Bruce has always found joy in life – and has helped everyone he knows do the same. It meant the world to see that sense of caring that reflects back on him and all of us.
“We were so moved by the love you all shared for our dear husband, father and friend at this difficult time. Your continued compassion, understanding and respect will allow us to help Bruce live the fullest life possible.’
The statement was signed by Emma, Demi and his daughters Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.
Willis shares Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29, with Moore, 60, who he was married to from 1987 to 2000. He also has two daughters, Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, eight, with his wife Emma, 44.
Scout wrote on her Instagram Stories a few hours after the announcement, “I’m feeling emotionally tired and a little overwhelmed but also in awe of the love so many people have for my dad.”
Telling her sister’s story, Tallulah agreed, “Second to this scouter who feels the overflowing love for our husband and family.”
Rumer then shared Tallulah’s post and chimed in, “I’m third to this Scouter and Buusk and I feel so deeply grateful and in awe of the love for us and our sweet daddio.”
The Willis/Heming family statement in full
“As a family, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the outpouring of love and compassion for Bruce over the past ten months. Your generosity has been overwhelming and we are very grateful for it. For your kindness, and because we know you love Bruce as much as we do, we wanted to give you an update.
“Since we announced Bruce’s aphasia diagnosis in Spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has improved and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD). Unfortunately, communication difficulties are just a symptom of the illness Bruce is facing. While it’s painful, it’s a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.
“FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can affect anyone. In people under the age of 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and since it can take years to diagnose, FTD is probably much more common than we know. Today there are no treatment options for the disease, a reality that we hope will change in the years to come. As Bruce’s condition progresses, we hope media attention can focus on shedding light on this disease, which requires much more awareness and research.’
Bruce has always believed in using his voice in the world to help others and raise awareness of important issues both publicly and privately. We know in our hearts that if he could today, he would want to respond by bringing global awareness and a connection with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it affects so many people and their families.
“Ours is just a family with a loved one suffering from FTD and we encourage others affected by it to seek the wealth of information and support that is available through AFTD (@theaftd, theaftd.org). And for those of you lucky enough not to have had personal experience with FTD, we hope you will take the time to learn more about it and support AFTD’s mission in any way you can.
“Bruce has always found joy in life – and has helped everyone he knows do the same. It meant the world to see that sense of caring that reflects back on him and all of us. We were so moved by the love you all shared for our dear husband, father and friend during this difficult time. Your continued compassion, understanding and respect will allow us to help Bruce live the fullest life possible.’
-Emma, Demi, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn
FTD occurs when nerve cells in the lobes behind the forehead die and the pathways of connection change.
The left temporal lobe is involved in the meaning of words and the names of objects. The right recognizes faces and familiar objects.
Bruce’s blended family released a joint statement in late March announcing that he was “retiring from the career that has meant so much to him.”
The statement revealed that he “has had some health issues and was recently diagnosed with aphasia, which is affecting his cognitive abilities.”
News: In a joint statement, Bruce’s family said the star’s condition had become “progressive” after he was forced to retire from acting last year when he was diagnosed with aphasia