Glenn Gordon Caron, the creator of the television series “Moonlighting” and a close confidant of Bruce Willis and his family, has provided an update on the actor’s health as he grapples with frontotemporal dementia.
Caron recently spoke to the New York Post, sharing that he makes an effort to visit the legendary “Die Hard” star approximately once a month. During these visits, Caron noted that there are moments in the initial one to three minutes when Willis seems to recognize him.
In Caron’s words, “My sense is the first one to three minutes he knows who I am. He’s not entirely verbal anymore. He used to be a passionate reader, a fact he preferred to keep private, but unfortunately, he’s no longer engaged in reading. Those language skills have slipped away. Yet, he remains unmistakably Bruce.”
He went on to express, “When you’re with him, you can still discern the essence of Bruce, and it’s a reason for gratitude, but the exuberance for life, the ‘joie de vivre,’ has waned.”
Caron’s professional relationship with Willis dates back to their collaboration on the series “Moonlighting,” where Willis portrayed David Addison Jr. alongside Cybill Shepherd’s Maddie Hayes. This series ran from 1985 to 1989, and their connection has endured. Caron has kept in touch with Willis, his wife Emma Heming Willis, and his three older children, whom he shares with ex-wife Demi Moore.
Reflecting on his friendship with Willis, Caron conveyed, “I’ve made a sincere effort to remain a part of his life. He’s an extraordinary individual. What’s truly remarkable about his illness is that if you’ve ever spent time with Bruce Willis, there’s no one who exuded more zest for life. He cherished life and woke up every day with an enthusiasm for living life to the fullest.”
In 2022, the actor’s family made a public announcement that Bruce Willis was retiring from acting due to an aphasia diagnosis. Subsequently, they revealed earlier this year that his condition had progressed to dementia.
During an appearance on the Today show, Emma Heming Willis provided an update on the 68-year-old actor’s ongoing battle, stating that it’s challenging to determine the extent to which he comprehends his diagnosis and deteriorating health. She emphasized that the impact of the disease is not limited to the person diagnosed but also extends to the entire family.