Bruce Willis’ Wife Opens Up About Finding Joy in Holidays Despite Changes

Bruce Willis’ family is preparing for another holiday season together, and his wife, Emma Heming Willis, says the celebrations still bring joy, even as things have changed for them. She spoke to People about what this time of year looks like now that the actor is living with frontotemporal dementia.

Emma said the holidays remain special, even if they don’t look the same as before. “It’s joyous. It’s just different,” she said. She explained that Christmas was always one of Bruce’s favorite holidays, and their family still makes sure to enjoy it with him.

“Bruce loved Christmas, and we love celebrating it with him. It just looks different, so we’ve kind of adapted to that,” she told the outlet.

The actor, now 70, was first diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, and later with FTD, which led to his retirement from acting. Since then, Emma has become more involved in speaking publicly about dementia.

She has shared updates through interviews and social media and has written a book called The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, which focuses on caregiving and finding strength during difficult times.

Emma noted that the holidays can be challenging for families caring for someone with dementia. Even so, she believes there is still room for happiness and shared moments. She joked about how one tradition can always stay the same: “You’ve got to play Die Hard. It counts as a Christmas movie.”

She also encouraged families to stay flexible and open to change. As she put it, “You have to learn and adapt and make new memories, bring in the same traditions that you had before. Life goes on. It just goes on. Dementia is hard, but there is still joy in it. I think it’s important that we don’t paint such a negative picture around dementia. We are still laughing. There is still joy. It just looks different.”

Bruce and Emma married in 2009 and share two daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11. Bruce is also a father to three older daughters, Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah, from his previous marriage to Demi Moore.

Emma said the most meaningful moments with Bruce now come from simple daily life. She described how being present with him gives her a sense of peace. “[The family’s life] is very simple. It always actually has been. I think that just being able to be present with him that is the joy. Me being able to be his wife with him. Those are the moments.”

Her book, The Unexpected Journey, is available in stores and offers insight into the emotional and practical side of caregiving.

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