Bruce Willis Retiring From Acting Amid Health Issues

Bruce Willis at the Luminere Awards in 2017
Bruce Willis at the Luminere Awards in 2017. Photo by MediaPunch/REX/Shutterstock (9176590a)

Bruce Willis established himself as one of the biggest action heroes in Hollywood over the course of the past four decades, but his career is nearing its final stage. The actor’s family announced he’s stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia.

According to the statement released by Willis’ wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore and his five daughters, this illness is impacting the actor’s cognitive abilities and it’s the reason why he decided to step away from the career that has meant so much to him.

“We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him. As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up’ and together we plan to do just that,” reads the statement by the actor’s family.

Willis rose to prominence with the role in the ABC series Moonlighting, and became a household name while playing John McClane in the Die Hard franchise. He also starred in action franchises The Expendables, Red, and Sin City, but had a chance to explore many other genres over the course of his four-decade-long career. His filmography also includes critically acclaimed movies Pulp Fiction (1994), The Fifth Element (1997), The Sixth Sense (1999), Unbreakable (2000), and Moonrise Kingdom (2012).