Bruce Willis makes a surprise move that excites his fans amid ongoing dementia battle

It has been 18 months since beloved actor Bruce Willis stepped away from acting amid his ongoing battle with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, bringing an end to a stellar career on the big screen and prompting a wave of well-wishes as the 69-year-old withdrew from public life.

Willis, probably best known for his role as Detective John McClane in the "Die Hard" films, has hardly been seen by the general public since 2022, given his advancing dementia and communication struggles due to aphasia. But to fans' delight, Willis was seen in public very recently amid a health update from his family.

Where was Willis spotted?

Photos acquired by The U.S. Sun show Willis wearing a striped collared shirt and a black cap while riding around Los Angeles on Sunday. The "Pulp Fiction" star was accompanied by his own security team as he sat in the passenger seat of a black SUV, enjoying the sunny weather in southern California.

Willis' retirement from acting was prompted by the 2022 aphasia diagnosis, with doctors confirming a frontotemporal dementia diagnosis in 2023. Tallulah Willis, one of Bruce's three daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore, recently told People magazine that maintaining flexibility and openness is key to hanging on to a relationship with her dad.

"Whatever kind of day it is, my family and I meet him where he's at," Tallulah said.

Willis' acting career, spanning from 1980 to 2022, saw him win a Golden Globe in 1987 for his work on the TV series "Moonlighting". He continues to be celebrated for his versatility as an actor, and he holds more than 150 film credits over his lengthy career.