In a new Instagram video uploaded by wife Emma Heming on Thursday, Bruce Willis enjoyed a ride on Splash Mountain during a vacation to Disneyland. Fans were delighted by his joyful smile.
The 68-year-old Die Hard star, who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia after retiring from performing, visited the amusement park with his wife and children.
Heming, 44, shared a video of herself photographing with her smartphone while sat on the log ride with her husband, Bruce, and their daughter, Mabel, 11, just behind her.
‘Here we go!’ she cried, as the former Hollywood actor positioned his left arm protectively in front of his kid before splashing down. ‘Smile,’ he urged, as the clip cut to after the fall.
Bruce laughed and wiped a few droplets from his face before sweetly telling Mabel, ‘You gotta watch out, I think we are gonna go again.’
Having a blast! Bruce Willis, 68, flashed a cheerful smile, much to the delight of fans, as he enjoyed a ride on Splash Mountain during a trip to Disneyland in a new Instagram video shared by wife, Emma Heming, 44, on Thursday
Fun day! The Die Hard star, who has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia following his retirement from acting, was not only joined by his wife to the amusement park, but also his children
Although it is unclear when the video was exactly taken, Emma also uploaded a photo of Bruce’s three daughters whom he shares with ex-wife Demi Moore: Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29, who jumped on the ride as well.
She had the chance to enjoy Splash Mountain multiple times, such as going on with daughter, Mabel, and Evelyn, nine, whom she welcomed with Willis after tying the knot in 2009.
Lastly, the model shared a short reel in the slideshow post that was taken from a far distance as she went down the steep drop on the ride.
In the caption, Heming penned, ‘You bet this family will be back for more fun and laughs when you reopen as Tiana Bayou! Thanks for all the memories Splash Mountain.’
The iconic ride officially closed on May 31 and will turn into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, based on the Disney classic, The Princess And The Frog, with a reopening date set for 2024, according to People.
Social media users flocked to the comment section to share their support and joy to see The Sixth Sense star having a blast and smiling with his family.
One typed, ‘I love how he’s protecting her with his arm! Dad instincts, so sweet,’ while another wrote, ‘To see Bruce and his family happy is the best.’
A follower applauded Emma by adding, ‘Good job Mrs Willis you are in control of Bruce’s dementia. It takes fun times and lots of work. I controlled my husbands Dementia/Alztimers for 18 years.’
Making memories: Bruce let out a laugh and wiped a few droplets away from his face, and sweetly told Mabel, ‘You gotta watch out, I think we are gonna go again’
Family time: In the caption, Heming penned, ‘You bet this family will be back for more fun and laughs when you reopen as Tiana Bayou! Thanks for all the memories Splash Mountain’
Splash Mountain closed on May 31 and will reopen in 2024 as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, inspired by the Disney classic The Princess and the Frog, according to People.
‘I’m just keeping him going by taking him to exciting places, eating out, and conversing with him all day. Stimulating his brain. Assisting with his memory. Children are wonderful, and so are you!’ the fan concluded.
One follower emphasized the value of family, writing, “Love and Family is the reason we hope, the reason we keep believing, and the reason we keep pushing forward.” and blessings for your family.
In February of this year, Bruce’s family released an Instagram statement revealing his exact diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The Alzheimer’s Association states that frontotemporal dementia causes nerve cell destruction in brain regions, resulting in deterioration in behavior, personality, and trouble with language production and comprehension.
Emma announced on Instagram in May that Wave Life Sciences has completed a clinical trial to identify a therapy for FTD.
‘I read yesterday that Wave Life Sciences has discontinued its clinical trial that could potentially treat frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),’ she wrote.
Although the entrepreneur said that the news was a “gut punch,” she also stated that she is always seeking for “silver linings.”
‘So I’d want to thank Wave Life Sciences, the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, and AFTD for their active participation in the Treat FTD Fund program.’
Let’s go! Emma also uploaded a photo of Bruce’s three daughters whom he shares with ex-wife Demi Moore: Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29, who jumped on the ride as well
Loving support: Social media users flocked to the comment section to share their support and joy to see The Sixth Sense star having a blast and smiling with his family
Happy: One typed, ‘I love how he’s protecting her with his arm! Dad instincts, so sweet,’ while another wrote, ‘To see Bruce and his family happy is the best’
‘Please keep that momentum going, build on the learnings/findings and don’t give up on this loving community,’ and positively emphasized that, ‘Our family will continue to keep the faith and never lose hope.’
Bruce’s daughter, Tallulah, shared a moving piece that was published in Vogue on May 31 that touched on her father’s dementia.
Although her family initially announced in 2022 that Willis was diagnosed with aphasia before revealing he has FTD, the actress admitted, ‘But I’ve known that something was wrong for a long time.’
‘It started out with a kind of vague unresponsiveness, which the family chalked up to Hollywood hearing loss: “Speak up! Die Hard messed with dad’s ears!” Later that unresponsiveness broadened, and I sometimes took it personally,’ she revealed.
‘He had had two babies with my stepmother, Emma Heming Willis, and I thought he’d lost interest in me,’ but added that it, ‘couldn’t have been further from the truth…’
Sharing the love: Other fans applauded Emma for her hard work to keep Bruce happy while another commented on the importance of family
In May, Emma announced on Instagram that Wave Life Sciences has completed a clinical trial to develop a therapy for FTD.
The singer went on to say, ‘I acknowledge that I have faced Bruce’s decline with a degree of avoidance and denial that I am not proud of. “The truth is that I was too sick to handle it,” she said, explaining that she had anorexia nervosa, an eating condition.
‘Recovery is certainly a lifelong process, but I now have the tools to be present in all aspects of my life, including my relationship with my father.Tallulah wrote, “I can bring him a bright and sunny energy no matter where I have been.”
The actor revealed that today, ‘I can relish that moment, grasp my dad’s hand, and feel that it’s beautiful,’ while also admitting ‘that this is the beginning of mourning, but that whole thing about loving yourself before you can love somebody else—it’s real.’
She went on, ‘These days, my dad can be reliably located on the first floor of the house, anywhere in the vast open plan of the kitchen-dining-living room, or in his office.’
‘Thankfully, dementia has not impaired his mobility,’ and said, ‘He still knows who I am and brightens up when I enter the room.’
Opening up: Bruce’s daughter, Tallulah, shared a moving piece that was published in Vogue on May 31 that touched on her father’s dementia
Bruce has received support from loved ones, fans, and fellow actors, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, who described him as ‘amazing’ after a 1994 encounter in Las Vegas.
Bruce has received support not just from loved ones and fans, but also from other stars, like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
During an interview with CinemaBlend earlier this week to promote his latest project, Fubar, the Terminator star discussed Willis’ retirement. ‘I think he is wonderful.’
‘For years and years, he has been a great star. And I believe he will be recognized as a truly tremendous star. And a kind dude.
“I understand that due to his health, he had to retire.” But in general, we never truly retire. Action heroes reload. Schwarzenegger and Bruce co-starred in the Sylvester Stallone-directed film The Expendables.