More than a year after his longtime friend Bruce Willis retired from acting, Arnold Schwarzenegger is speaking out.
The 68-year-old Willis announced through his family that he was retiring from acting in March 2022, after being diagnosed with aphasia, which affects language expression and comprehension.
The family announced in February 2023 that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia after his condition had progressed.
Both Willis and Schwarzenegger were two of the biggest stars in Hollywood throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and became business partners when they fronted Planet Hollywood with Sylvester Stallone, and later starred in The Expendables movies.
While promoting his new Netflix series Fubar, the 75-year-old Schwarzenegger spoke about his old friend retiring in a new interview with CinemaBlend.
Speaking out: More than a year after his longtime friend Bruce Willis retired from acting , Arnold Schwarzenegger is speaking out
Speaking out: While promoting his new Netflix series Fubar, the 75-year-old Schwarzenegger spoke about his old friend retiring in a new interview with CinemaBlend
Co-stars: Both Willis and Schwarzenegger were two of the biggest stars in Hollywood throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and became business partners when they fronted Planet Hollywood with Sylvester Stallone, and later starred in The Expendables movies
‘I think that he’s fantastic. He was, always for years and years, is a huge, huge star,’ Schwarzenegger began.
‘And I think that he will always be remembered as a great, great star. And a kind man,’ the actor continued.
‘I understand that under his circumstances, health-wise, that he had to retire. But in general, you know, we never really retire. Action heroes, they reload,’ he concluded.
Willis’ family – including daughters Rumer and Scout – announced the actor’s retirement in February 2022 with a lengthy Instagram post that revealed that his diagnosis was, ‘impacting his cognitive abilities.’
‘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,’ they added.
The statement added: ‘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,’ the statement, which was signed by his wife, model Emma Heming Willis, his ex-wife Demi Moore and all of his children, concluded.
Huge star: ‘I think that he’s fantastic. He was, always for years and years, is a huge, huge star,’ Schwarzenegger began
Supporters: ‘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’
According to the National Aphasia Association, the condition is an impairment of language, affecting the production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write.
The association reports the condition is always due to injury to the brain, most commonly from a stroke, particularly in older individuals.
Willis’ final film – Assassin – was released in late March 2023 – along with the final installment of his Detective Knight trilogy – Detective Knight: Independence.
Schwarzenegger currently stars in Fubar on Netflix and he has Kung Fury 2 in post-production.
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