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More than 55 million people around the world have been plagued by dementia, and now the condition — known for loss of memory, language and other critical thinking abilities — is sadly making its way through Hollywood, from stars like Bruce Willis to television personalities such as Wendy Williams.
In Touch looks at the celebrities who have recently been diagnosed with the life-altering disease, which has now become the seventh leading cause of deaths worldwide.
Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno put a hold on his professional life to quietly care for Mavis, his beloved wife of 43 years, after her dementia diagnosis. “Jay loves Mavis deeply and always has since they first met at the Comedy Store back in the ’70s,” reveals a friend and fellow comic. In January, Leno, 73, filed a petition in California for conservatorship of his wife’s estate, saying 77-year-old Mavis “has been progressively losing capacity and orientation to space and time for several years” and that her “current condition renders her incapable of executing the estate plan.”
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Bruce Willis
The Die Hard actor’s family shocked the world in March 2022 when they revealed the charismatic movie star was stricken by aphasia — a condition that eroded his memory and ability to communicate. But one year later, Willis’ loved ones confirmed his condition had advanced to progressive frontotemporal dementia, which has further compromised his ability to speak and think. His wife, Emma Heming Willis, 45, admits her 69-year-old husband’s mental state continues to worsen. Emma, who shares two daughters with the Pulp Fiction star (whom she married in 2009), insists their household still has “love” and “joy” — even as life is clouded by “grief and sadness.”
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Joanne Woodward
The Hollywood legend was diagnosed with dementia in 2007 and virtually disappeared from public view. Sources say the Three Faces of Eve Oscar winner, who was wed to the late screen icon Paul Newman for 50 years, is completely lost and delusional. The 94-year-old is living with her family in Connecticut. “At this point, the best that can be done for Joanne is to keep her comfortable while waiting for the inevitable,” a source revealed just a year ago. “It’s a tribute to her courage and determination she has lived with this debilitating disease as long as she has.”
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Wendy Williams
Williams, 59, was diagnosed with progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in late 2023. Her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., recently confirmed her condition was partially alcohol induced. The Lifetime documentary Where Is Wendy Williams? candidly exposed the star’s ongoing spiral into a haze of alcohol abuse and cognitive decline as her family seeks to gain control of her finances and life decisions. Williams’ care is now firmly in the hands of court-appointed caregiverSabrina Morrissey, a Big Apple attorney. She has sued Lifetime for taking advantage of the TV host to make the documentary; Lifetime is fighting back.
