Bruce Willis spotted with friends in Malibu days after 'Die Hard' co-star Clarence Gilyard Jr's death
MALIBU, CALIFORNIA: Bruce Willis was spotted at SunLife Organics in Malibu enjoying a drink with friends on December 1. The actor, who has taken a break from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, kept warm for the occasion by donning a navy zip-up jacket and a black beanie.
The 67-year-old 'Pulp Fiction' star wore a white henley shirt, light denim jeans, and a pair of New Balance sneakers to unwind and spend time with friends. Just days before Bruce's appearance in Malibu, Clarence Gilyard Jr, who starred with Bruce in the movie 'Die Hard', died at age 66 after battling a long illness.
READ MORE
Justin Bieber sports hoodie and beanie as he joins mother Pattie to attend Churchome service in LA
Gilyard portrayed Theo, a quirky computer hacker, to Willis' investigator John McClane in the 1988 action movie. He played Theo once more in 2020 when, alongside Willis, he appeared in a promotional video for 'Die Hard' car batteries from Advance Auto Parts. Theo accompanied McClane on an exciting quest to get a new battery for his automobile in the advertisement.
Sylvester Stallone, a fellow actor and Willis' close friend, claimed earlier this month that Willis was having a "tough" time after being diagnosed with the brain condition aphasia. Willis' family announced on social media eight months ago that he had aphasia, a neurological disorder that impairs his ability to interpret language, and that he will be retiring from acting as a result.
Stallone, 76, who co-starred with Willis in 'The Expendables' and its follow-up, revealed earlier this month to The Hollywood Reporter, "Bruce is going through some really, really difficult times. So he’s been sort of incommunicado. That kills me. It’s so sad."
Bruce Willis was experiencing cognitive problems on the set of his most recent movies and was struggling to recall his lines before his family intervened "to take care of him," according to an article by Page Six in March. After the retired actor was seen doing mainly B action movies in 2020, speculations started to circulate. A source claimed Willis had to utilize "earpieces, hearing things" in order for them to give him his lines for a scene.
"It was increasingly difficult to have him on screen," the source added. "It became very apparent that he was having problems, so they'd use body doubles, not just for action [sequences], but for maximizing his screen time. He was having cognitive problems, they all knew Bruce was having problems. Everybody knew, the cast and crew. His family has stepped in, they moved in to take care of him."