Why Is Bruce Willis Retiring From Acting?

After being diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that has affected his “cognitive capacities,” Bruce Willis, the star of the “Die Hard” trilogy and dozens of other action films, will retire from acting, his family said on Wednesday.

Willis, 67, rose to stardom in the 1980s comedy-drama TV series “Moonlighting,” and has starred in over 100 films over the course of his four-decade career, collecting a Golden Globe Award and two Emmys for his parts in “Pulp Fiction” and “The Sixth Sense.”

Willis and actress Demi Moore were among Hollywood’s most well-known celebrity couples in 1990s until their divorce in 2000, although the two remained close after the split.

He is presently married to Emma Heming, a model and actress, and has five children with both women. In a statement, his family stated,

“This is a terribly difficult moment for our family, and we are so thankful for your continuous love, sympathy, and support.”

“We are going through this as a strong family unit and we wanted to include his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him,” the statement said.

Demi Moore and her daughter Rumer posted the message on Instagram. According to Brenda Rapp, a professor of cognitive science at Johns Hopkins University, aphasia is a problem that is most usually induced by a stroke but can also be caused by head trauma or, in rare situations, neurological illness.

In a telephone conversation, Rapp explained that symptoms vary considerably and can impede speaking, understanding, and reading abilities. Aphasia can be remedied with speech therapy in some cases.