Bruce Willis’ Wife Says It’s “Hard To Know” If He’s Aware Of His Dementia In Emotional ‘Today Show’ Interview: It’s “A Blessing And A Curse”

Bruce Willis‘ wife, Emma Heming Willis, joined The Today Show to give an update on the actor’s health.

In 2022, the Willis family announced he would be stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, which the family later learned was a symptom of frontotemporal dementia.

Today, his wife sat down with Hoda Kotb and Susan Dickinson, CEO of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, to discuss what it has been like acting as his “care-partner” and raising their two young children throughout this journey.

“I think it was a blessing and a curse to finally understand what was happening so I can lean into the acceptance of what it was,” Heming Willis said. “It doesn’t make it any less painful, but just being in the know of what is happening to Bruce just makes it a little easier.”

His daughter, Tallulah Willis, admitted in an essay published in Vogue earlier this year that the family noticed his “vague unresponsiveness” for a while but originally chalked it up to “Hollywood hearing loss” after his work on films like Die Hard.

On The Today Show, Dickinson explained that this form of dementia can affect behaviors, personality, and self-awareness.

Heming Willis admitted that it’s “hard to know” if he’s aware of his diagnosis, but her husband remains “the gift that keeps on giving.”

“I think my kids would be great no matter what, this is not what what I would want for them. But it’s teaching them so much in how to care and how to love and it’s a beautiful thing amongst sadness,” she said. The couple shares two daughters, ages 9 and 11.

Heming Willis visited The Today Show to kick off World Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week, which begins today (Sept. 25). As what she refers to as a “care-partner,” she gave advice to others who are taking care of loved ones suffering from frontotemporal dementia.

“It’s important for care partners to look after themselves so that they can be the best care partner for the person they’re caring for,” she said.

While she is not usually one to step into the spotlight, Heming Willis said she was doing it for her husband of almost 14 years. “[For] me to be out here doing this, this is not my comfort zone,” she admitted. “But this is the power of Bruce.”

The Today Show airs on weekdays at 7 a.m. ET on NBC.