Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Bruce Willis Stepping Away From Acting For Health Reasons, His Family Says
Bruce Willis in 2018.
(
Rich Fury/Getty Images
)
One of the most popular actors of his generation has announced his departure from the screen. Bruce Willis' daughter, Rumer Willis, shared the following statement on Instagram:
"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. As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him. This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support. 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. Love, Emma, Demi, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, & Evelyn"
Aphasia is a cognitive condition that affects the ability to speak, write and understand language. It can occur after strokes or head injuries, and can lead in some cases to dementia.
Emma Hemming, Bruce Willis, Tallulah Belle Willis, Demi Moore in 2008. The family put out a joint statement about Willis' health.
(
Stephen Lovekin
/
Getty Images
)
Support for LAist comes from
About aphasia
-
We spoke to Michael Biel, a speech pathologist at UCLA Medical Center, to better understand aphasia.
-
Biel told us:
-
"People with aphasia will have difficulty doing anything that requires the use of language. So that's speaking, understanding the speech of others, reading, writing. It's easy for people with aphasia to be stigmatized as somehow less mentally competent than they are. But with few exceptions, they are intellectually intact, they're intellectually normal. Unfortunately, most of us judge others intelligence through their speech"
Willis overcame a stutter to become an A-list leading man. His early career in theater led to a starring role in the hit TV series Moonlighting, which began in 1985. As a sardonic private detective with blue-collar grit, Willis was perfectly positioned for his next major role as the wiseacre cop John McClane in the movie Die Hard. The film spawned a massive franchise and etched Willis into the mythology of American manhood with catchphrases that cannot be repeated in these pages.
Over the years, Willis has appeared in nearly 150 films and TV shows, including Pulp Fiction, 12 Monkeys, The Fifth Element and Moonrise Kingdom. His IMDB credits list eight productions released in 2021 alone, and 11 for 2022. Some of those films and shows are in pre-production; it is unclear whether Willis will ultimately appear in movies such as Fortress 3, where he's listed as a co-star with Chad Michael Murray or Paradise City with John Travolta.
-
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit npr.org.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist