Bruce Willis retires from acting due to health problems
Los Angeles, Mar 30 (EFE).- American actor Bruce Willis is retiring due to aphasia, an acquired language disorder resulting from brain damage, his family said in a statement posted Wednesday on social media.
“Our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,” the statement read. “As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”
Aphasia manifests as an inability to understand or express spoken or written language.
“This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support,” read the statement signed by Willis’s wife, Emma Heming Willis; his ex-wife, Demi Moore; and his five daughters: Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.
The 67-year-old Willis, who was born in Germany but grew up in New Jersey, is stepping away from acting just a month after the release of the action thriller film “Gasoline Alley” and just a few weeks after the release of the heist action film “A Day to Die.”
Willis also was involved in several other films that are due to be released in the coming months, including “Fortress: Sniper’s Eye.”
An actor best known for his roles in “Die Hard” (1988), “Pulp Fiction” (1994) and “The Sixth Sense” (1999), Willis developed a global fan base after rising to stardom with the ABC comedy-drama series “Moonlighting,” in which he starred alongside Cybill Shepherd.
“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,” the statement said. “As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up,’ and together we plan to do just that.”
A prolific actor who has appeared in more than 100 films, Willis is bringing an end to a career that saw him win a Golden Globe Award for best actor in a television series for “Moonlighting” in 1987 and receive four other Golden Globe nominations for that same series.
Willis also won two Primetime Emmy Awards, one for outstanding lead actor for his role in “Moonlighting” in 1987 and another for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for his role in “Friends” in 2000.
But his real legacy lies in the bond he formed with the general movie-going public, a connection seen in his box-office success as an action hero through his portrayal of New York City cop John McClane in the Die Hard franchise, which grossed a combined $1.4 billion worldwide.
Across his entire four-decade acting career, Willis’ movies have taken in more than $5 billion in total box office internationally.
His popularity among movie-goers also was seen in the two People’s Choice Awards he won in 1986 for his performance in “Moonlighting” and in 2000 for his role in M. Night Shyamalan’s supernatural psychological thriller film “The Sixth Sense.” EFE
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