Bruce Willis quits acting after being diagnosed with degenerative brain condition aphasia
In a statement posted to social media, his family said: ‘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.’
But an unnamed source told Page Six his declining cognitive ability had been an open secret in Hollywood as the actor repeatedly had trouble acting in his films
‘Everybody knew, the cast and crew,’ the unnamed source said, adding that Willis was ‘using earpieces, hearing things, for them to feed him the lines,’ and it ‘was increasingly difficult to have him on screen.’
He said that films actually had to be made closer to where Willis resided with his family – who, the source said, has been taking care of the 67-year-old actor – to make productions easier.
And in at least one production, the source said, producers began using a body double to increase Willis’ screen time, while in another his screen time was ‘whittled down,’ with the actor shooting on set for only three days.
‘It was becoming super obvious he was having trouble … he could not act anymore.’
The famed actor was even pictured on the set of American Siege in 2020 wearing an earpiece – a full two years before the family’s announcement that Willis has aphasia.