Rumer Willis, the eldest daughter of legendary actor Bruce Willis, opened up in a raw and emotional Father’s Day post that’s tugging at hearts around the world. The post marks another intimate moment in the family’s ongoing journey through Bruce’s devastating health battle.
Bruce Willis, known for decades as the unshakable action hero in classics like Die Hard, stepped away from acting in 2022 following a diagnosis of aphasia—a condition that affects the brain’s language abilities. But just a year later, the family revealed something even more heartbreaking: Bruce had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD)—a rare and aggressive neurological disorder that causes changes in personality, behavior, and the ability to communicate.
On June 15, Rumer shared a touching photo and message in honor of her father, expressing her deep love, gratitude, and sorrow.
“I’m so grateful for the moments I had with you when you were still so fully yourself,” she wrote. “I miss your laugh. I miss your hugs. I miss being silly with you. I wish I had held those moments longer.”
Her post comes as the Willis family continues to raise awareness about FTD—a little-known but devastating disease that currently has no cure or effective treatment. They’ve been praised for their openness in sharing Bruce’s condition, helping to shine a light on what so many families face in silence.
Doctors say FTD typically strikes between the ages of 45 and 65 and progresses more rapidly than other forms of dementia. Unlike Alzheimer’s, memory loss is not the first symptom. Instead, families often notice unusual behavior or changes in personality long before a diagnosis is reached.
Rumer ended her tribute by thanking her dad for shaping the woman—and now mother—she’s become.
“You gave me so many gifts, Dad—your strength, your humor, your bravery. I carry you with me every day, in everything I do.”
As the world watches one of Hollywood’s most beloved icons fade from the spotlight, his family’s strength and vulnerability continue to inspire.
Willis’ eldest child Rumer issued a heartfelt post about her dad for Father’s Day on June 15, while also noting the regrets she has as well as what she is thankful for.
She wrote on Instagram: “Today is hard, I feel a deep ache in my chest to talk to you and tell you everything I’m doing and what’s going on in my life. To hug you and ask you about life and your stories and struggles and successes. “I wish I asked you more questions while you could still tell me about it all. But I know you wouldn’t want me to be sad today so I’ll try to just be grateful reminding myself how lucky I am that you’re my dad and that you’re still with me and I can still hold you and hug you and kiss your cheek and rub your head, I can tell you stories.
“I can watch the way your eyes light up when you see [my daughter] Louetta. I will be grateful for every moment I have with you. I love you so much dad happy Father’s Day. Sending love to all those who are in the boat with me or have lost their fathers, to the single moms who are the dads too, to my future baby daddy…”
As well as the sweet message, Rumer also shared images of her and Bruce over the years. Many people on social media also offered a kind word to Rumer and her father, many encouraging her to cherish the time she has with her father and to reach out to loved ones when she is struggling.