Bruce Willis is stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia

Legendary actor Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with aphasia, his family confirmed on Wednesday.

“To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family, we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,” his family wrote in a joint statement shared to each of their Instagram accounts, adding that he will be “stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”

“This is a really challenging time for our family, and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion, and support,” the “Die Hard” star’s family continued. “We are moving through this as a strong family unit and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him.

“As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up,’ and together we plan to do just that,” the statement concluded, which had been signed by his wife Emma, his ex-wife Demi Moore and all of his children.

For those of you who don’t know what aphasia is, please check out this description from the Mayo Clinic:

Aphasia is a condition that robs you of the ability to communicate. It can affect your ability to speak, write and understand language, both verbal and written.

Aphasia typically occurs suddenly after a stroke or a head injury. But it can also come on gradually from a slow-growing brain tumor or a disease that causes progressive, permanent damage (degenerative). The severity of aphasia depends on a number of conditions, including the cause and the extent of the brain damage.

Once the cause has been addressed, the main treatment for aphasia is speech and language therapy. The person with aphasia relearns and practices language skills and learns to use other ways to communicate. Family members often participate in the process, helping the person communicate.

Rumors have been circulating that Willis may have been experiencing debilitating health issues. For years, fairweather fans have pointed toward the actor’s “easy paycheck” projects, never considering that something more serious was going on. It could be that the reason Willis accepted those projects was that they were less taxing than your garden variety action blockbuster. When you love what you do, it’s hard to let go.

Our hearts go out to Mr. Willis, his family, friends, and fans. Aphasia is a debilitating condition that will change the actor’s life as it progresses. We hope that people are kind as patience and understanding play a prominent role in managing the situation.