Get the latest gossip

‘Carers need care, too’: Bruce Willis’s wife speaks out after deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa


Emma Heming Willis, who is primary carer for the actor since his dementia diagnosis in 2023, says there is ‘a broader story’ to tell about their plight

His Alzheimer’s disease led investigators to suspect he may have remained unaware his wife had died, and was evidently unable to summon help. Speaking on Instagram, Heming Willis, 46, said she hoped the tragic deaths of the couple and one of their dogs would prompt people to reflect on the “broader story”. The circumstances of Hackman’s death have substantially affected the legacy of one of Hollywood’s most venerated stars, with his and Arakawa’s plight highlighting the obstacles faced by vulnerable elderly people and those who seek to look after them.

Get the Android app

Or read this on The Guardian

Read more on:

Photo of betsy arakawa

betsy arakawa

Photo of Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman

Photo of Bruce Willis’s

Bruce Willis’s

Related news:

News photo

Gene Hackman said he ‘would have died long ago’ without his wife Betsy Arakawa caring for him, pal reveals

News photo

Amid Reports Gene Hackman Likely Lived A Full Week Alone With Advanced Alzheimer’s After His Wife Betsy Arakawa’s Death, Bruce Willis’s Wife Has Urged People To Look Out For Caregivers

News photo

Gene Hackman's Pal Says He Would've Died "Long Ago" Without Wife