Bruce Willis Steps Away From Acting Due to Aphasia Diagnosis

Actor Bruce Willis is planning to step away from his acting career after being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that can affect an individual's speaking and writing abilities, his family said in a series of Instagram posts Wednesday.

“To Bruce’s 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,” said a statement signed by his family member. His wife Emma Heming Willis, and three daughters along with his ex-wife Demi Moore shared the statement on their respective Instagram accounts.

Mr Willis’s family said in the statement, “This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support.” 

According to the National Institutes of Health, aphasia is a condition that damages the part of the brain that causes language. There are multiple causes of disability, including stroke, head trauma, or degenerative disease.

Bruce Wills started his acting career in the 1980s and has starred in several Hollywood blockbusters including “The Sixth Sense,” “Armageddon,” and “The Expendables.”

His most famous role is the role he replayed in four subsequent sequels as the fictional detective John McClane in 1988's Die Hard. The latest in the series, 2013's “A Good Day to Die Hard,” has grossed $305 million in box-office revenue worldwide.