'I still love Demi': Bruce Willis made astonishing confession about ex Demi Moore years after divorce

The pair were married for 11 years and share daughters Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, who is 28

PUBLISHED MAY 1, 2023

NOW AND THEN: Demi Moore celebrating Bruce Willis' birthday in 2022 and the couple before their divorce in 2000 (Instagram/@demimoore, Online USA, INC/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Demi Moore has stood by her ex-husband Bruce Willis and his current wife Emma Heming amid his deteriorating health. The duo has long been considered the friendliest exes in Hollywood as the 'Die Hard' star once admitted that he "still" loved Moore despite breaking things off with her years ago. The pair were married for 11 years and share daughters Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 28.

Moore, 60, and Heming, 44, decided to help each other out after Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia earlier this year. The tragic update came after it was revealed that the actor had aphasia, a language disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate. He was forced to step away from acting in March 2022 due to his condition, which typically occurs after a brain injury or stroke.

Rumer Willis reveals Demi Moore and Bruce Willis are 'so excited' to welcome 'first' grandchild

Willis and Moore tied the knot in 1987 after meeting a the premiere of 'Stakeout', which starred Moore’s then-fiancé, Emilio Estevez. She was previously married to singer Freddy Moore from 1981 to 1985. After their wedding, Willis and Moore welcomed Rumer in 1988, Scout in 1991, and Tallulah in 1994.

UNDATED FILE PHOTO: Actor Bruce Willis and actress Demi Moore. On October 25, 2000, it has been reported that the couple, who separated in 1998 filed for a divorce at a courthouse near Sun Valley, Idaho last week. — Actor Bruce Willis and actress Demi Moore. On October 25, 2000, it has been reported that the couple, who separated in 1998 filed for a divorce at a courthouse near Sun Valley, Idaho last week. (Photo by Diane Freed/Newsmakers)

The couple, however, announced their separation in June 1998 and filed for divorce two years later. After they submitted their paperwork in October 2000, Willis admitted he didn't know exactly what went wrong in their marriage. “I still love Demi. We’re very close,” the 'Sixth Sense' actor confessed to Rolling Stone that year, as quoted by Us Weekly. “We have three children whom we will continue to raise together, and we’re probably as close now as we ever were. We realize we have a lifelong commitment to our kids. Our friendship continues. The institution has been set aside … It’s difficult to live your life and marriage under a magnifying glass, which is what happens to movie star couples.”

Actors Demi Moore and Bruce Willis with their daughters Rumer (R) and Scout arrive at the premiere of the film "Bandits" on October 4, 2001 in Westwood, CA. (Photo by Jason Kirk/Getty Images)

While Willis and Moore surely faced ups and downs as husband and wife, they managed to remain a tight-knit family after the split. Now, with Willis' ongoing health struggles, the exes have become closer than ever.

"Demi has been in constant contact with Bruce and Emma," sources with knowledge recently told Radar Online, adding, "She's taking every opportunity she can to spend time with him. If she's not there by his side, she's calling on the phone just so Bruce can hear her voice." Moore and Hemming are supporting each other as they struggle to cope with Willis' declining health. His wife has reportedly become the middleman between the exes.

"Bruce can't say much, and it doesn't seem like he's grasping much of what others say," the insider continued, adding, "So Emma's really been the voice and communicator for him." The embattled family has been rallying around the Hollywood legend. "They know he won't be around forever," the source noted, adding, "So they're cherishing every single moment."