Rumer Willis has opened up about the emotional toll of her father Bruce Willis' frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, admitting in a new Instagram video that she 'really misses' the Hollywood star and that 'some days are just so hard.' The 38-year-old actress and influencer posted the video on Monday, discussing both her father's condition and her own risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
'I really miss my dad. I miss a different version of who he was,' the mother of one shared. 'There are some days that are just so hard.' She added: 'I try to prioritise being present with where he's at now. The truth is to be strong is learning to deal with both things at the same time.'
Genetic testing and family history
Rumer revealed that she had undergone an APOE genetic test, which assesses an individual's risk for Alzheimer's disease. She said she wanted to 'check out because of my family history.' Sharing her results, she explained: 'I have a 3/4, which is pretty average, but it also just means that there is some risk, but it's not crazy.'
Speaking to People Magazine about her decision to take the test, Rumer said: 'It's terrifying to get answers sometimes. Obviously there are genetic things in my family. Not just dementia, I've had some family members who have had breast cancer and family members who have had different things. But I think when you have information, it's power. And that sounds so, like, Spider-Man, but when we're able to see, OK, maybe I'm more predisposed to this, you can just start actively working to reduce inflammation in your body, work on heart health, whatever it is.'
Support from followers and family
The House Bunny actress received an outpouring of support in the comments section from followers in similar situations. Autumn Chambers wrote: 'Just sending you and the family much love,' while Jacqueline Mae Edwards said: 'Thank you for sharing such a hard part of your journey.' Mohammad Ghasemian added: 'We miss him too.' Another fan commented: 'Grieving the loss when someone is physically there must be the hardest thing anyone can go through. To share this with the world must also maximise how hard [sic.] when this is so private.'
Rumer is the eldest daughter of Bruce, 71, and Oscar nominee Demi Moore, 63, who were married from 1987 to 2000. The former couple also share daughters Scout, 35, and Tallulah, 32. Bruce's wife Emma Heming Willis, 48, with whom he shares daughters Mabel, 14, and 12-year-old Evelyn, recently addressed a common misconception about his condition, explaining that Bruce's form of FTD affects language rather than memory.
Bruce's condition and recent appearances
Bruce's family announced in 2022 that the Die Hard actor was stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a brain-related disorder that impacts a person's ability to speak, write and communicate rather than their memory. The family subsequently disclosed in 2023 that his condition had progressed and that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, or FTD. FTD and Alzheimer's are separate conditions that affect different parts of the brain, with FTD often starting younger and impacting the front and sides of the brain, leading to changes in personality, behaviour or language initially, while Alzheimer's starts with memory loss and affects the whole brain.
Rumer has spoken in recent months about the changes she has observed in her father. In May, she said on The Inside Edit podcast that Bruce was 'OK in the context of what his reality is' and described a new 'tenderness' in their relationship. She also said she was grateful that her daughter Louetta, three, had been able to form a relationship with her grandfather. Rumer added: 'I love getting to go over and see him. I'm so grateful that I have a child that got to meet him because I don't know if my sisters will have that. You know, who knows? Even though our time together is different now, I'm so grateful still that I have this time.'
Bruce made a rare public appearance this month when he attended the wedding of his daughter Tallulah to musician Justin Acee in Sun Valley, Idaho, with photographs showing Bruce embracing Tallulah. Demi was also present.
Career and personal life
Bruce remains best known for playing John McClane in the Die Hard films, while his extensive career also included Pulp Fiction, The Sixth Sense, Armageddon, 12 Monkeys and the television series Moonlighting. Rumer has pursued her own acting career, appearing alongside Demi in Striptease as a child before going on to roles in The House Bunny, Sorority Row and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She also competed on and won the 20th season of Dancing With the Stars.
Rumer's latest focus on health comes after a significant period in her personal life. She was awarded primary physical custody of Louetta in June following a dispute with her former partner Derek Richard Thomas, 40, while the former couple retained joint legal custody.
