The news was hard to believe and it came at that time of year not all stories are what they seem. But it was no April Fool’s joke, just sad news that’s a part of growing old for roughly 180,000 Americans each year. This year, Hollywood actor and Hailey resident/investor Bruce Willis was one of them.
Aphasia is a disorder that results from damage to portions of the brain that are responsible for language. On March 30, Rumer Willis—the daughter of Willis and Demi Moore—posted the following announcement from her Instagram profile:
“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. As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is 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. 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.
“Love, Emma, Demi, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, & Evelyn Willis”
Planet Haileywood
During the 1990s, Willis and Moore not only resided in Hailey, they were the town’s biggest investors, too, buying up and sprucing up a number of landmark properties, most notably The Mint. After the couple divorced, their footprint dissipated some, but even today Willis seems to have perhaps a low profile in high-profile developments, such as the private airport proposed in Fairfield.