Bruce Willis Diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia, His Wife Emma Reveals: 'Condition Has Progressed' The Die Hard actor was previously diagnosed with aphasia, his family revealed in March 2022 Bruce Willis as John McClane in the1988 blockbuster Die Hard. (20th Century Fox/Everett Collection) (20th Century Fox/Everett Collection) To that end, he did recall that it was festive on set. In 1985, his career boomed with his starring role opposite Cybill Shepherd in the ABC series “Moonlighting” and his iconic performance as action star John McClane in 1988’s “Die Hard.” Die Hard actor Bruce Willis quickly fell in love with his wife, Emma Heming, after they met in 2007 at their trainer’s gym. The Entourage alum has been by her husband’s side amid his battle Bruce Willis attends the Los Angeles "A Good Day To Die Hard" Mural event held at Fox Studio Lot on January 31, 2013 in Century City, California. Davorka Tovilo attends the German premiere of Die Hard 4.0 at the Sony Center CineStar June 18, 2007 in Berlin, Germany. By 1998, Willis had capitalized on the equity built up from “Pulp Fiction” as much as he could. A third installment of “Die Hard” and movies like “12 Monkeys” and “The Fifth Element Emma Heming says it’s ‘hard to know’ if Bruce Willis is aware of his dementia in tearful interview. Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, gave an update on his condition Monday as a part Tia Willin’s husband, Ryan — a Navy veteran, father of four and her “best friend” — died from FTD at the age of 39, just five years after he first experienced symptoms. By Daniel DiManna. Published Jul 10, 2021. Bruce Willis was perfect casting for John McClane, but he was far from the first choice. Here are the actors who nearly landed the lead in Die Hard. It’s hard to imagine Die Hard without Bruce Willis in the lead role of John McClane, but there were several other actors who almost played the role. Matthew Perry prayed “every night” for Bruce Willis leading up to his death amid the “Die Hard” actor’s battle with the neurodegenerative disorder frontotemporal dementia. The “Friends KZmUhA8.