Bruce Willis' lawyer insists star 'wanted to work' despite serious health issues

1 July 2022, 13:36

Claims a producer Bruce Willis worked with knew he was struggling but allowed him to continue filming numerous projects have caused concerns in Hollywood.

Bruce Willis' lawyer has insisted that the star 'wanted to work' amid allegations a producer he often worked with continued filming despite knowing about his declining health issues.

According to a lengthy exposé published in the Los Angeles Times, producer Randall Emmett reportedly knew Bruce Willis was struggling but allowed him to continue working on numerous low-budget films.

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Bruce Willis, 67, announced in March of this year he was retiring from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia - a degenerative brain disease that causes problems with speech and words.

In response to the claims, Mr Willis' lawyer Martin Singer said: "My client continued working after his medical diagnosis because he wanted to work and was able to do so, just like many others diagnosed with aphasia who are capable of continuing to work.

"Because Mr. Willis appeared in those films, they could get financed. That resulted in literally thousands of people having jobs, many during the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

In a statement to the LA Times, producer Randall Emmett said he was not aware "of any decline in Mr. Willis' health" despite the pair having worked on a reported 'two dozen films' together.

However, the article claims that during the filming of Bruce Willis movie Midnight in the Switchgrass, Emmett told his then-fiance Lala Kent: “I can’t do this anymore. It’s just so sad. Bruce can’t remember any of his lines. He doesn’t know where he is.”

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Emmett's spokesperson has since made a statement to Us Weekly stating that the producer was "very proud of the work he and Bruce Willis have done over the last 15 years" and that "if Bruce had not wanted to be on set, he would not have been there".

Bruce Willis-Under The Boardwalk

Bruce Willis is best known for starring in the Die Hard film franchise and also starred in other highly acclaimed films such as Pulp Fiction, The Fifth Element, Twelve Monkeys, The Sixth Sense and Moonrise Kingdom.

The actor also released three albums - one under the alter ego of Bruno Radolini - and his cover of 'Under the Boardwalk' just missing the top spot in the UK singles chart in 1987.