Bruce Willis reveals he's stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with brain condition

Much to the disappointment of his fans, Hollywood legend Bruce Willis is retiring from acting after being diagnosed with a brain condition.

His family shared the diagnosis in a joint statement, writing that it was a "really challenging time".

"To Bruce's amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities.

"As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.

"This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him.

"As Bruce always says, "Live it up" and together we plan to do just that."

Aphasia can begin as trouble communicating due to brain damage in the left side of the brain, which controls language.

Someone with aphasia might have trouble finding the correct words, substitute the wrong words for each other or speak in short sentences that are difficult or impossible to understand.

While its presentations can vary, aphasia is usually a symptom of a broader medical issue. It may result from a stroke, head injury or tumour, or develop due to a degenerative brain condition.