Bruce Willis has become well recognized in the most recent chapter of his decades-long career for what some may call an unusually prolific output, turning out more pictures in a year than some movie stars do in a decade. As an example, at the time of writing, his IMDb page mentions a total of seven projects in various stages of production, all of which are set to be released in 2022. This appears to be a pattern for Willis, who has steadily increased his project output during the last decade of his career.
In addition, eight Willis films were released in 2021, whereas four films were released in 2020 (actually five). Unless you consider his “DieHard is Back” commercial for DieHard batteries, in which he played John McClane from the “Die Hard” movie one last time. That remarkable work rate may make it appear that retiring is the last thing on his mind, but regrettably, for his numerous fans, it appears that his illustrious career in the film industry is coming to an end. Willis’ family broke the news about what’s next for him on social media, with his wife, Emma Heming Willis, and the rest of his blended family announcing the reason for the A-surprise lister’s retirement and the circumstances surrounding his career in movies.
While this isn’t particularly good news for Willis fans, it’s as good an excuse as any to reflect on the actor’s achievements in both film and television throughout the course of his illustrious career. Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, announced her husband’s retirement from acting on Instagram on March 30. “[O]ur beloved Bruce has been suffering some health challenges and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is affecting his cognitive abilities,” Heming Willis and his first wife, Demi Moore, and all of his children said in a joint statement. As a result of this, and after considerable thought, Bruce is announcing his retirement from a career that has meant so much to him.
Our family is going through a difficult time, and we appreciate your continuous love, compassion, and support.” The Mayo Clinic defines aphasia as “a disorder that impairs your capacity to communicate, whether verbally or in writing.” As you might expect, this diagnosis could affect an actor’s ability to memorize and deliver lines. As a result, it’s reasonable and deserving of our sympathy that Willis, with the backing of his family, has decided to retire and focus on other things. Heming Willis’ message contains no new information about Willis’ health. Instead, in a message to Willis’ fans, the family asks for their ongoing support and promises to “live it up” as a family during the actor’s retirement. Fans are understandably saddened by the news, but there is solace in the fact that we have more than enough of his performances to look back on and appreciate.
It’s sad to see Bruce Willis’ career come to a close on this note, especially for fans who hoped he’d return to the kinds of high-profile productions he anchored in the past — films like “Die Hard,” “Pulp Fiction,” and “The Sixth Sense,” to name a few. It’s comforting to know, though, that the actor’s early retirement is in order for him to concentrate on his health and spend time with his family.
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