By John Ikani
Action hero Bruce Willis, star of the “Die Hard” franchise, is to retire from acting due to illness, his family announced on Wednesday.
Bruce Willis, 67, was diagnosed with a brain condition called aphasia that affects his ability to understand language.
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.’
The statement added: ‘This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him.
‘As Bruce always says, “Live it up” and together we plan to do just that,’ the statement, which was signed by his wife Emma, his ex-wife Demi Moore and all of his children, concluded.
Bruce is known for his long career in Hollywood that spans several decades, often playing the lead in action films like Die Hard and its sequels, Armageddon and more.
He has also appeared in iconic films like Pulp Fiction, The Fifth Element, The Sixth Sense, 12 Monkeys and Sin City, often as tough-guy characters with a heart of gold. More recently, he starred in the 2018 Eli Roth-directed hit action-thriller Death Wish.
Bruce has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and two Emmy Awards, and has several projects lined up for a 2022 release.
