Moonlighting creator expresses concern: Bruce Willis is 'not entirely talkative' and has lost his 'zest for life

By M Muzamil Shami

Despite everything, he remains Bruce," stated Glenn Gordon Caron.

The groundbreaking '80s series "Moonlighting," which catapulted Bruce Willis to stardom, is now available for streaming on Hulu as of earlier this week.

Conceived by Glenn Gordon Caron and featuring Cybill Shepherd alongside Willis, "Moonlighting" serves as an excellent platform to showcase Willis' talents, especially his sharp wit and quick-witted exchanges. Regrettably, due to Willis' battle with dementia, his ability to communicate verbally has been affected, as noted by Caron.

Caron shared with The New York Post, "I'm aware he's genuinely pleased that [Moonlighting] will be accessible to viewers, even though he can't express that to me verbally. When I had the chance to spend time with him, we discussed it, and I could sense his enthusiasm." 

       Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd featured in the show 'Moonlighting' | Image Credit: ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty

Due to the lengthy process of bringing Moonlighting to streaming, Caron mentioned that he had the opportunity to converse with Willis about the show 'before the disease rendered him as incommunicative as he is now.' He went on to express, 'I know it holds great significance for him.'

In March 2022, Willis' family disclosed his diagnosis of aphasia, leading to his decision to step back from acting. Subsequently, they provided an update on his condition, revealing its progression to frontotemporal dementia.

Caron shared that he endeavors to visit Willis approximately once a month, and believes that the renowned actor of The Fifth Element recognizes him during their encounters, if only briefly.

"I sense that for the initial one to three minutes, he recognizes me," Caron remarked. "He isn't entirely verbal anymore; he used to be an avid reader—he didn't want anyone to know that—and now he doesn't read. All those linguistic abilities are no longer accessible to him, and yet he remains Bruce."

Caron continued, emphasizing, "When you're with him, you know he's Bruce, and you're thankful that he's there," adding, "but the zest for life has diminished."

For five seasons, Willis portrayed the smooth-talking detective David Addison alongside Shepherd's former model character, Maddie Hayes. Garnering 41 Emmy nominations, Moonlighting secured six wins, including an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Willis in 1987, a year prior to his iconic role in Die Hard.

Despite its critical acclaim and awards, Moonlighting was previously unavailable on streaming platforms due to music rights, which Disney, the current owner, secured following Willis' diagnosis. The show is now accessible for streaming on Hulu.