Arnold Schwarzenegger & Sylvester Stallone Join Forces To Help Ailing Pal Bruce Willis

Apr 07, 2023

Bruce Willis' family announced he was retiring from acting in March 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia; they have all banded together around him to love and support him through his difficult transition. They have also come together to announce that aside from the debilitating disease that he has acquired, he was also diagnosed with dementia. 

Willis is one of the most legendary Hollywood actors of all time. He is most famous for his roles in action films but has also shown to have quite a diverse set of talents, appearing in films and television shows in a variety of genres and even showing off his skills as a singer. 

He has been a pivotal figure in the acting world for more than 40 years, which is why fans and loved ones were left heartbroken when they heard the news that he was retiring from the field. 

Willis had his breakthrough in 1985 with the TV series "Moonlighting," and has since appeared in many films. Some of his most popular films include "Pulp Fiction," "Armageddon," "The Sixth Sense," "Looper" and the "Die Hard" franchise.

As John McClane, Willis shaped the image of the American action hero. The dirty undershirt he wore as the character actually turned into a piece of cultural property and can now be seen in the National Museum of American History.

Aside from the said films, the “The Expendables” franchise is one of the most associated movies to him – as he appeared with action superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. 

Because of his current health condition, Willis’ family turned to his dear friends for help, specifically Schwarzenegger and Stallone. Read on to learn more about the help that they are extending to the beloved action star. 

Bruce Willis (2018), (Rich Fury/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images)

On March 30, 2022, the world was left heartbroken at the announcement of Willis’ retirement. Willis’ current wife, Emma Heming, and ex-wife Demi Moore posted the same picture and caption on their respective Instagram accounts, explaining that Willis was diagnosed with aphasia and therefore needed to take a step away from acting.

According to John Hopkins, aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage in a specific area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension. This disorder leaves a person unable to communicate with others effectively and can sometimes even cause the afflicted to no longer understand the speech of others correctly.

According to Page Six, Willis was having cognitive issues prior to his family stepping in "to take care of him." He struggled to remember his lines and was actually unable to do so. A source explained: "He was having cognitive problems, they all knew Bruce was having problems. Everybody knew, the cast and crew. His family has stepped in, they moved in to take care of him."

On Feb. 16, 2023, Willis’ family again pulled together to deliver a crushing update on the star's health condition. Simultaneously on the Instagram accounts of Heming, Moore, and his children, the women shared an "update about our beloved husband, father and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing."

"Since we announced Bruce's diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce's condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD). Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” the post read. 

apost.com

Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger (1991), (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Given the worsening health condition of Willis, his family has mounted various efforts to come up with ways to keep the 68-year-old actor sharp and still active. 

Radar Online source revealed that Willis’ family isn’t alone in battling the debilitating condition of their patriarch. Turns out, they have round-the-clock support from all of Hollywood, the actor’s fans, and his best buddies. 

“Sly Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, of course, and Jason Statham and so many others are right there at the front of the line offering to do anything they can, 24/7,” the insider source told the outlet. “It's a huge comfort for Bruce and his loved ones that he'd got so much goodwill and love to count on. The guy is a hero among his Hollywood peers, even if this situation is unbearably tough for all concerned."

The same outlet reported that the family has decided to gather the Award-winning actor’s peers and former co-stars to have a screening of Willis’ old television shows and movies in their lavish Beverly Hills Mansion. 

Turns out, the effort to screen his old shows is an effort to keep his memory “sharp and stimulated as possible.”

“It may be a Hail Mary pass, but at this stage, they’re willing to try anything to keep Bruce’s memory intact for as long as they can,” the insider continued

Aside from SchwarzeneggerStallone, and Jason Statham, her on-screen wives and beaus Cybill Shepherd and Bonnie Bedelia have already signed up for the concerted effort for their dear friend. 

Willis’ friends and family remain optimistic despite the heartbreaking reality. The same outlet, in a different report, also dished out that the actor is “determined to stay coherent and lucid” as long as possible to be present and active for his grandchildren and the entire family.  

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis (2006), (Eric Charbonneau/WireImage via Getty Images)

Are you a fan of Bruce Willis? Do you have any wishes for him and his family? What can you say about Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone teaming up to help him? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other Bruce Willis fans!

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