Emma Heming Willis Advocates for Joy and Adaptation Amid Bruce Willis’s Dementia Diagnosis

Emma Heming Willis recently shared insights into her family’s holiday traditions and coping strategies in light of her husband Bruce Willis’s diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Speaking at the End Well 2025 conference in Los Angeles, she emphasized the enduring importance of classic films, particularly highlighting the 1988 action movie “Die Hard,” which she passionately declared a Christmas movie.

At 47, Emma reflected on her family’s love for celebrating the holidays, stating, “Bruce loved Christmas, and we love celebrating it with him.” Despite the challenges brought on by Bruce’s diagnosis in 2022, she reassured others facing similar situations that “there is still joy” in the midst of hardship. She explained that the way joy manifests may change, but it remains present.

Emma offered heartfelt advice to families and caregivers navigating the complexities of dementia. She acknowledged the difficulties of maintaining holiday spirit during times of stress and loss but urged families to adapt: “You have to learn and adapt and make new memories,” she advised. She believes in the importance of preserving family traditions while also creating new ones, asserting that “life goes on,” and it’s crucial not to view dementia in solely negative terms.

Bruce Willis, who is 70 years old, stepped back from acting following his initial aphasia diagnosis in 2022, a condition related to language and communication. Emma and Bruce share two daughters, Mabel Ray, 13, and Evelyn Penn, 11, and he is also a father to three adult daughters from his previous marriage to Demi Moore.

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Emma has become a vocal advocate for raising awareness about FTD through social media and various interviews, including during the conference where she spoke with actress Yvette Nicole Brown. She has also penned a book titled The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, which offers guidance for others in similar caregiving roles.

The question of whether “Die Hard” qualifies as a Christmas film has sparked considerable debate, with Bruce himself humorously stating at a roast in 2018 that it is “not a Christmas movie; it’s a goddamn Bruce Willis movie.” Regardless, for Emma and her family, the film remains a cherished part of their holiday celebrations.