Bruce Willis' Costar Honors Actor With DWTS Performance

Published: October 2, 2024

Bruce Willis' Costar Honors Actor With DWTS Performance

By Movieguide® staff

Actor Reginald VelJohnson recently paid tribute to his friend and co-star Bruce Willis in an appearance on DANCING WITH THE STARS.

For the performance, VelJohnson and his dance partner Emma Slater performed the paso doble to “Ode to Joy.” The performance began with VelJohnson, dressed as an officer, saying into a radio, “I need backup,” before Slater took the stage. The duo danced around a police car in homage to his role in the 1988 film DIE LONG, in which he starred alongside Willis.

In an interview with ET, VelJohnson said, “It took me back to when I first made this movie and I kind of enjoyed it.”

Above all, he hoped that his achievement would bring joy to his old friend.

“I hope he enjoyed it. I hope that he's, you know, a very special man… I want to thank you, Bruce, I love you,” he said.

Willis is currently battling dementia, which has progressed in recent years. Movieguide® reported:

In 2022, Willis' family announced that he had been diagnosed with aphasia. The following year they announced that his diagnosis had been changed to frontotemporal dementia.

Heming Willis is an outspoken advocate for nurses and shares her journey on social media. She said it was very important to be “open and honest” with the couple's daughters about Willis' condition.

“The most important thing for us was to be able to say what the disease was, to be able to explain what it is, because when you know what the disease is from a medical perspective, it all kind of makes sense,” she told TODAY. “It was important that we let (our daughters) know what it is because I don't want their father's diagnosis or any form of dementia to be stigmatized or shamed.”

Last month, Willis' daughter Tallulah Willis spoke out about her father's condition.

“He is stable, which is good and hard in this situation,” said the 30-year-old. “There are painful days, but there is so much love.”

“It really showed me that I can't take any moment for granted and I really believe that we would be best friends,” she continued. “I think he is very proud of me. You have to be in the moment. You have to be present.”

Tallulah shared a few photos of her with her father on Instagram earlier this week. “Hey, I love this guy so much and feeling emotions is a hard thing, but I'm so grateful to let them flow through me now instead of trying to separate myself from it! From the eternal archives,” she wrote.