Bruce Willis visits LA wildfire first responders in rare video amid dementia battle

Bruce Willis is making a rare public appearance to thank LA wildfire first responders.

In an Instagram video, Willis' wife and businesswoman Emma Heming Willis took to Instagram to share a heartwarming video of the actor, who is battling dementia, shaking hands and talking with law enforcement officers seemingly battling the Los Angeles wildfires.

"Spotting a first responder, Bruce never missed a chance to show his gratitude with a heartfelt handshake and a 'thank you for your service.' Yesterday was no different ❤️🤍💙" Heming Willis wrote. Willis has rarely been seen publicly since his family announced he was diagnosed with dementia in February 2023.

On Thanksgiving Day 2024, the "Die Hard" franchise star's daughters Tallulah and Scout Willis, who he shares with Demi Moore, posted heartfelt Instagram photos on Thursday. In the snaps, Willis, 69, held a nameplate that said "Best Dad Ever" surrounded by his daughters on a couch.

The sisters, who posted the photos jointly, captioned the post "Grateful." Willis and Moore's eldest daughter Rumer Willis, the actress and "Dancing with the Stars" alum, was not pictured in the photos.

In March 2022, the family announced Willis would retire from acting amid an aphasia diagnosis. About a year later, in February 2023, they announced a health update for fans, telling Willis' followers he had been diagnosed with dementia.

A message posted on the Instagram accounts of wife Heming Willis, ex-wife Demi Moore and daughter Rumer Willis stated: "Our family wanted to start by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce’s original diagnosis."

They continued: "Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD)."

His frontotemporal dementia diagnosis is a brain disorder caused by degeneration of the brain's frontal lobe.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bruce Willis visits LA wildfire first responders: See rare video