Rumer Willis is sharing insight into dad Bruce Willis’ health journey.
On Thursday, the actress, 37, took to her Instagram Stories for a Q&A session with followers.
One person asked: “How’s your dad doing?”
The “Die Hard” actor, 70, was diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, months before his family publicly shared that he was suffering from frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Rumer Willis opens up about her dad in an Instagram Q&A. rumerwillis/Instagram
“People always ask me this question, and I think it’s kind of a hard one to answer,” Rumer replied. “Because the truth is, that anybody with FTD is not doing great. But he’s doing OK, in terms of somebody who’s dealing with frontotemporal dementia.”
“I’m so grateful that when I go over there, and I give him a hug,” she continued, “whether he recognizes me or not, that he can feel the love I’ve given him, and I can feel it back from him. That I still see a spark of him, and he can feel the love that I’m giving. So that feels really nice.”
Rumer also shared how thankful she is to be able to take her daughter, Luetta, 23 months, over to see her dad.
Bruce also shares daughters Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31, with ex-wife Demi Moore.
Rumer Willis, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore and Tallulah Belle Willis attend the after party for the Comedy Central Roast of Bruce Willis at NeueHouse in LA on July 14, 2018. Getty Images For Comedy Central
Rumer Willis and dad Bruce Willis pose backstage at The Ambassador Theater in NYC on September 21, 2015. FilmMagic
Bruce and the “Substance” actress, 63, divorced in 2000 after 13 years. He married Emma Heming Willis in 2009 and the couple share daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11.
After his diagnosis, Bruce retired from acting.
“Our family wanted to start by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce’s original diagnosis,” his family posted to Instagram in 2023. “In the spirit of that, we wanted to give you an update about our beloved husband, father and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing.”
In August, Emma, 47, revealed that the “Assassin” vet moved into a “second home” nearby, where he receives round-the-clock care.
“I knew by being honest and open about it that it would be met with a lot of judgment,” she said at Endwell 2025 this week. “I did a lot of therapy around that to kind of, like, get myself ready.”
Rumer Willis, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Scout Willis, Emma Heming Willis and Tallulah Willis in LA on September 23, 2019. Getty Images for goop
Emma Heming Willis with husband Bruce Willis. Emma Heming Willis/Instagram
“The judgment comes from the outside,” Emma continued.
Some social media users criticized the author’s decision to have the “Pulp Fiction” star living in a separate residence. “If you are not on the front lines of this, in that person’s house day in, day out, 365 days a year, you don’t get a say and you don’t get a vote,” she clapped back. “F—k ‘em.”
“This is the best decision for our family. It was the safest one. And our family is now, in essence, thriving,” Emma explained. “People don’t realize all the needs that go unmet behind closed doors.”
Their daughters are now able to have friends come over again, while still being able to see their father at his house.
“Their world has completely opened up, and so has my husband’s,” said the entrepreneur.
“It’s the right thing for our family, and it might not be right for everybody else’s, but that’s OK,” Emma noted. “We’re all on our own journey.”
Bruce Willis and Rumer Willis pose together in a sweet family shot. Rumer Willis/Instagram
Demi Moore and Bruce Willis and their daughters Rumer and Scout arrive at the premiere of the film “Bandits” in Westwood, Calif., on October 4, 2001. Getty Images
Moore, meanwhile, gave a rare update on her ex-husband’s dementia battle in Dec. 2024.
“Given the givens, he’s in a very stable place at the moment,” the Golden Globe winner said during an interview with CNN. “And I’ve shared this before, but I really mean this so sincerely. It’s so important for anybody who’s dealing with this to really meet them where they’re at, and from that place, there is such loving and joy.”
Moore added that watching a loved one struggle with the condition is “very difficult” and is “not what I would wish upon anyone.”
“There is great loss, but there is also great beauty and gifts that can come from it.”