Willis was diagnosed first with aphasia -- a condition where the brain's ability to understand or express language is impaired, according to the National Institutes of Health -- in 2022 before receiving an additional diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia in 2023, according to his family.

In an Instagram post shared by his wife Emma Heming Willis on Thursday, Willis can be seen shaking hands with a Los Angeles police officer.

Courtesy of Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for goop Emma Heming Willis shared a rare video of her husband, actor Bruce Willis thanking emergency responders amid the Los Angeles wildfires. The brief black and white video,

Last month, Bruce's ex-wife, Demi Moore, gave an update on his well-being amid his battle with dementia. In an interview with CNN, the 62-year-old actress explained that the actor is "in a very stable place," but it hasn't been easy watching him struggle.

Bruce Willis made his first public appearance since his dementia diagnosis, greeting Los Angeles firefighters fighting wildfires. His wife, Emma Heming, posted the heartfelt moment on Instagram, emphasizing Bruce's gratitude and their family's ongoing battle with his illness.

"Bruce never missed a chance to show his gratitude with a heartfelt handshake," the actor's wife Emma Heming says.

In a recent Instagram post shared by his wife, Emma Heming Willis, Bruce Willis speaks with Los Angeles Police officers and shakes their hands.

Bruce Willis is showing his gratitude for the first responders in Los Angeles as several wildfires ripped through the city over the past week.

Bruce Willis retired from acting in 2022 and was then diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. He's rarely been seen in public since then.

Bruce Willis was seen in public for what appeared to be the first time since his 2023 frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis in a video his wife Emma Heming Willis shared that showed Willis speaking with and thanking Los Angeles police officers as wildfires continue throughout Los Angeles county.

In what’s believed to be his first public sighting since retiring from acting, Bruce Willis made sure to thank first responders battling the blazes in Los Angeles.

Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma, shared video of the iconic actor thanking first responders as they work to protect the public from deadly Los Angeles area wildfires.