Sylvester Stallone shares update on pal Bruce Willis: ‘He’s going through really difficult times’

Sylvester Stallone (76) has shared an update on fellow actor Bruce Willis’ battle with aphasia, saying the 67-year-old Die Hard star is “going through some really, really difficult times, so he’s been sort of incommunicado”. 

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The fact that he’s been unable to speak to his long-time pal “kills him”, Sly told the Hollywood Reporter. “It’s so sad.”

Sly says he misses terribly talking with his old pal, who is suffering from aphasia – affecting his ability to speak and understand things. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The superstar actors at the 30th birthday party of Bruce's first wife, actress Demi Moore, at Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park in 1991. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

In March, Bruce’s family announced that the actor would be retiring from acting after being diagnosed with the physiological disorder which can affect a person’s ability to speak, write and understand language. Treatment includes speech and language therapies.

“To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family, we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities.

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“As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,” the star's family said in a statement.

“As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up’, and together we plan to do just that.”

In response, Sylvester shared some old pictures on Instagram of him and Bruce, captioning it, “We go back a long way, praying for the best for you and your wonderful family.”

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The two met years ago and were recruited to help endorse the restaurant franchise Planet Hollywood together in 1991, along with fellow action star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Sylvester, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce endorsed Planet Hollywood in the early ’90s. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The went on to star in the hit 2010 action flick The Expendables, which sparked a feud between them and led to Bruce pulling out of the third film in the series. However they later patched things up.

Sly isn't the only one who’s sad about Bruce's condition.

Bruce’s wife, Emma Heming Willis (44), was criticised for expressing her grief at her husband’s battle on Grief Awareness Day in August.

Bruce and his second wife, Emma Heming Willis, at the premiere of his movie Motherless Brooklyn at the annual New York Film Festival in 2019. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Among the hateful posts she received was one calling her a “drama queen”, which she shared with her followers on Instagram.

She addressed the haters in an Instagram story, saying, “When you’re not allowed to talk grief, self-care or being human in the world on grief awareness day . . . My gawd. But in the words of the great, philosophical, insightful Bruce Willis … ‘Ah, f–k em’.”

Sources: indulgeexpress.com, pagesix.com, Instagram