Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, is speaking out about the importance of caring for caregivers following the news of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths.
On Feb. 26, Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home, leading to an investigation. About a week later, Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical investigator for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, shared in a press conference that the Oscar winner died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and that Alzheimer’s disease significantly contributed to his death. Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, she said.
Authorities confirmed based on the autopsy that Arakawa, whom the New York Times described as Hackman’s “sole caregiver,” died about a week before her husband.
Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa attend the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards.Jeffrey Mayer / WireImage
Heming Willis, who has been her husband’s caregiver amid his diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia, shared a video on Instagram reacting to how Hackman and Arakawa died.
“So this is not something I would normally comment on, but I do really believe that there is some learning in this story in regards to this tragic passing of Mr. And Mrs. Hackman,” Heming Willis began in a message posted March 10. “It just made me think of this broader story, and that is that caregivers need care, too. And that they are vital, and that it is so important that we show up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person.”
She continued, “I think that there’s this common misconception that caregivers, they got it figured out. They got it covered. They’re good. I don’t subscribe to that.”
In the caption, she emphasized her message, writing, “Caregivers need care too. Period. Full stop.” She also included the hashtag, “supportcaregivers.”
Fans in the comments supported Heming Willis’ message.
“Every caregiver’s worst nightmare — that something will happen to us and our person will be left vulnerable. So so sad,” one wrote.
Another commented, “Well said. And people miss the point. Caregivers feel that they have to be superhuman so they don’t ASK for help. People must lovingly insist. If you haven’t been a caregiver then you don’t get it.”
Heming Willis has opened up before about taking care of her husband after he was diagnosed with FTD, a brain disorder that impacts communication skills.
Bruce Willis and wife Emma Heming Willis attend the 57th New York Film Festival on October 11, 2019 in New York City.Theo Wargo / Getty Images
While appearing on TODAY in September 2023, she described dementia as “a family disease” that has affected her and Willis’ five daughters, as well. The actor shares Rumer, 36, Scout, 33, and Tallulah, 31, with ex-wife Demi Moore, and Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, 10, with Heming Willis.
Heming Willis also said she prefers the term “care partner” for herself instead of caregiver.
“It’s important for care partners to look after themselves so that they can be the best care partner for the person they’re caring for,” she said at the time.
More recently, Heming Willis, 46, spoke about the Willis family coming together to help her as she cares for the “Pulp Fiction” star in an interview with Town & Country in October.
“The family respects the way I’m looking after him; they really support me,” she shared. “If I need to vent, if I need to cry, if I need to rage — because all of that can happen and it’s okay to have those feelings — they are always there to listen.”
Heming Willis added, “I’m so thankful that we are this blended family. They’re very supportive, very loving, and very helpful, and a lot of people don’t have that.”
