Scouting Hollywood: March 2-8

A roundup of news, gossip and history of the entertainment business brought to you from Hollywood, Calif.

Bruce Willis’ family announced he’s been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, an “uncommon” form of dementia that can lead to problems with language and behavior. Reports of his disability surfaced a few years ago as he struggled to learn scripts and movements on a series of projects. In 2022, at the age of 67, his family said he was suffering from aphasia and was “stepping away” from acting. The new statement in part read, “FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone. For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than we know. Today there are no treatments for the disease; a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research.”