Bruce Willis’ daughter Rumer shared that her famous father doesn’t always recognize her when she visits him, amid his battle with dementia.
The actress, 37, gave fans an update on the 70-year-old Die Hard star’s health via her Instagram Stories on Thursday.
The Hollywood icon retired from acting in 2022 due to his worsening health, and has been moved out of his family home to a separate one-story house where he has a 24/7 care team.
Rumer shared that though Willis — who was recently seen holding a carer’s hand during a rare outing — might not always recognize her, she knows that he can feel her love and that there’s a ‘spark’ in him.
The mom-of-one revealed that she is ‘so happy’ and ‘so grateful’ that she can ‘still get to go and hug him.’
‘I’m so grateful that when I go over there, and I give him a hug, 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.’
Bruce Willis’ daughter Rumer, 37, shared that her famous father, 70, doesn’t always recognize her when she visits him, amid his battle with dementia
The Hollywood icon (pictured with Rumer in 2013) retired from acting in 2022 due to his worsening health, and has been moved out of his family home to a separate house where he has a 24/7 care team
‘So that feels really nice,’ she added.
Rumer shared that she brings her 23-month-old daughter Louetta along for the visits.
‘I just feel grateful that I get to go over there with Luetta and we get to spend time with him, and I get to feel the love that he has for me, and that I can love him and be with him.’
After a fan inquired about her dad’s health, Rumer replied, ‘People always ask me this question, and I think it’s kind of a hard one to answer, because the truth is that anybody with FTD (frontotemporal dementia) is not doing great.’
‘He’s doing okay, in terms of somebody who is dealing with frontotemporal dementia.’
‘The only way that I feel like I could answer that in a way that was like “He’s doing great!” – you know, it’s like, those parameters don’t really work anymore I guess, in my mind.’
In June, Rumer shared heartwarming snaps of her with Bruce throughout the years in a pensive Father’s Day tribute post.
Rumer also previously shared that she ‘misses’ her dad, and shared photos of him and his granddaughter back in 2023.
Bruce shares Rumer and her two sisters — Tallulah, 31, and Scout, 34 — with his ex-wife Demi Moore, 63. The two were married from 1987 until 2000.
He’s also dad to daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, with wife Emma Heming Willis, 47. The two wed in 2009.
Rumer, her siblings, her mother, and Bruce’s wife have all delivered periodic updates on the Pulp Fiction star, ever since he stepped away from the spotlight.
Rumer shared that though Willis might not always recognize her, she knows that he can feel her love and that there’s a ‘spark’ in him
‘I’m so grateful that when I go over there, and I give him a hug, whether he recognizes me or not, that he can feel the love I’ve given him, and I can feel it back from him,’ she shared
Rumer shared that she brings her 23-month-old daughter Louetta along for the visits; The trio seen together in 2023
In June, Rumer shared a number of snaps featuring her with Bruce throughout the years in a pensive Father’s Day tribute post
Rumer previously shared that she ‘misses’ her dad and posted a sweet childhood snap with him back in 2023
Earlier this month Willis was pictured holding his carer’s hand during a rare public outing.
During one moment, an unsteady Willis reached his other hand for the railing, appearing to use it for support.
The actor’s family announced in 2023 that he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a form of dementia that causes a rapid decline in the areas of the brain linked to personality and language abilities.
In August, his wife, Emma said in an interview with Diane Sawyer that Willis has been moved into a separate one-story home away from their main house, where he has a full-time care team.
Emma told The Sunday Times: ‘It was of the hardest decisions I ever had to make.’
‘But among the sadness and discomfort, it was the right move — for him, for our girls, for me. Ultimately, I could get back to being his wife. And that’s such a gift.’
Emma added it has also given Bruce more independence, giving him the chance to reconnect with friends and family.
She explained: ‘It’s made such a difference for more friends and family to have their own experience with him without it being my home, without me hovering, or my anxiety of how to manage the guest and their expectations, and then have to see their reactions – their sadness at what is.’
She also recently shared a heartbreaking update on how their young daughters are coping with his declining health.
Bruce shares Rumer and her two sisters — Tallulah, 31, and Scout, 34 — with his ex-wife Demi Moore, 63. He’s also dad to daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, with wife Emma Heming Willis, 47; Tallulah pictured visiting Bruce in 2025
Bruce and Demi were married from 1987 until 2000; Pictured with Rumer and Tallulah in 2018 in Los Angeles
His second wife Emma (2nd to R) has continued to share updates on his battle with dementia, as well as the difficult of being a caregiver; Seen with his family in 2019 in LA
‘I think they’re doing well, all things considered but it’s hard,’ she told Vogue Australia in October.
‘They grieve, they miss their dad so much. He’s missing important milestones, that’s tough for them – but kids are resilient, [although] I used to hate hearing that because people didn’t understand what we were walking through.’
She added: ‘I don’t know if my kids will ever bounce back, but they’re learning and so am I.’
Willis has an estimated $250million in the bank, which his wife is reportedly now in charge of, as his FTD is too advanced for him to manage it with his team.
FTD eats away at the parts of the brain that control language, behavior and personality. Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, patients don’t lose their memory immediately but instead undergo personality changes.
The disease also attacks areas of the brain responsible for judgment, impulse control and decision-making, leading patients vulnerable to mismanaging their finances, which adds an extra burden on to caregivers.
