Die Hard star Bruce Willis retires from acting after aphasia diagnosis
Bruce Willis is retiring from acting because he has a condition that causes difficulties with language or speech, his daughter has said.
Rumer Willis revealed that the Die Hard star, 67, had been diagnosed with aphasia, which she said is “impacting his cognitive abilities”.
In an Instagram post, the actress, 33, said: “As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”
The message, addressed to “Bruce’s amazing supporters”, ended on an upbeat note: “As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up’ and together we plan to do just that.”
The statement was signed by the actor’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, 43, his ex-wife Demi Moore, 59, and his five children, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.
The NHS defines aphasia as when “a person has difficulty with their language or speech”.
The condition is “usually caused by damage to the left side of the brain (for example, after a stroke)”, it says.
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It affects “the four main ways people understand and use language”, reading, listening, speaking and writing or typing.
Head trauma, brain tumours or infections can also cause aphasia, the National Aphasia Association says on its website.
Willis with his wife Emma Heming Willis
It is not clear what led to Willis’ diagnosis.
Willis came to national attention alongside Cybill Shepherd in the 1980s TV hit Moonlighting.
His first big film role was as John McClane in the smash hit Die Hard in 1988. He went on to star in Pulp Fiction, 12 Monkeys and The Sixth Sense.
Over four decades he has starred in more than 100 films, which have amassed more than $5 billion (£3.8 billion) at the box office worldwide.
Aphasia is a condition that affects sufferers’ cognitive abilities with the most obvious problems in speech.
People with aphasia may make mistakes with the words they use, perhaps using the wrong word, using the wrong sounds in a word, or putting words together incorrectly.
Most people with aphasia have some trouble with their speaking, and a mixture of issues with writing, reading and perhaps listening.
Speech and language therapy is the main type of treatment for people with aphasia.
In some cases, it can lead to isolation, anxiety and depression.
A stroke is the most common cause of aphasia, but it can also result from a severe head injury, a brain tumour or progressive neurological conditions,
such as dementia.
Aphasia can affect people of all ages, but it’s most common in those aged over 65.
Source: NHS/National Aphasia Association
He has won one Golden Globe award and two Emmys.
Willis has several films in post-production, including Vendetta, Fortress: Sniper’s Eye and White Elephant. Fortress 3 is in pre-production.
More information on aphasia can be found here
Article source: https://news.sky.com/story/bruce-willis-retiring-from-acting-due-to-condition-impacting-his-cognitive-abilities-12578377