Bruce Willis wife Emma Heming Willis, who tied the knot with the Die Hard star in 2009, has dedicated herself to being his primary carer in recent years and knows all too well the challenges Betsy would have faced while looking after her husband as his Alzheimer’s disease progressed.
Bruce, 69, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023, just one year after retiring from the acting world following his aphasia diagnosis. Those closest to the legendary action hero have sadly said that he is now “non-verbal”, and that the “the joie de vivre is gone”.
Now, Emma has expressed her deepest sympathies and understanding for Betsy, and shared that there is “some learning” to take from the couple’s deaths. The pair were found dead at their home on Sunset Trail, New Mexico, along with one of their beloved pet dogs, Zinna, last month.
It’s believed Betsy, 65, died around one week before Gene’s passing, with the 95-year-old silver screen icon likely too confused to realise that his wife was lying lifeless on the floor of their bathroom. Speaking about the tragedy in an Instagram clip, Emma encouraged people to support caregivers while opening up about her own journey.
Expressing hope that the heartbreaking story of Gene and Betsy would encourage people to reflect on the “broader story”, Emma urged: “I do really believe that there is some learning. Caregivers need care, too. And that they are vital, and that it is so important that we show up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person.”
She added: “I think that there’s this common misconception that caregivers, they got it figured out. They got it covered. They’re good. I don’t subscribe to that.”
Bruce remains one of the most famous faces on the planet, but he’s stayed mostly out of the spotlight in recent years. In the autumn of 2024, Bruce was spotted in a rare public appearance and smiled as he enjoyed a drive around Los Angeles, appearing to be in high spirits.
