Arnold Schwarzenegger sends well-deserved love to his old pal Bruce Willis.
“I think he’s fantastic” Schwarzenegger told Cinema Blend on Saturday. “He was a huge star for years. And I think he will always be remembered as a great star. And a kind man.”
“I understand he had to retire due to his health conditions,” he continued, referring to the aphasia and dementia diagnoses Willis received last year. “But generally, you know, we never really retire. Action heroes, they reload.”
Schwarzenegger and Willis have known each other for decades and have become the biggest action stars of their generation. Her only box office competitor in this genre was Sylvester Stallone, with whom They founded the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain in 1991.
Die-hard fans’ dreams of seeing them together on screen finally came true in 2010’s The Expendables, which brought together a horde of action stars old and new for a lucrative trilogy. However, in March 2022, Willis’ family announced his retirement.
“This is a truly challenging time for our family and we are so grateful for your continued love, compassion and support.” they wrote in a statement at the timeand announced that Willis has been diagnosed with aphasia – a condition that affects the ability to communicate.
“We’re going through this as a strong family unit and wanted to include his fans because we know how much he means to you and you,” they continued. “Like Bruce always says, ‘Live it up,’ and together we plan to do just that.”
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In February 2023, Willis’ family said in a statement that the Die Hard actor’s condition had progressed to frontotemporal dementia.
“Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others and raise awareness of important issues both publicly and privately.” they wrote in an Instagram update posted by Willis’ ex-wife Demi Moore.
“We know in our hearts that if he could today, he would want to respond by creating worldwide awareness and a bond with those who are also struggling with this debilitating disease and how much they affect so many people and their families concerned,” they continued.
Schwarzenegger, who himself recently drew attention to the precarious abuse of steroids by young athletes, has since turned to another issue: global warming. The FUBAR star recently told CBS’s Sunday Morning that it has become his “crusade.”
“As long as they keep talking about global climate change, they’re not going anywhere.” He told the show’s correspondent Tracy Smith. “Because nobody cares. So my thing is, let’s rephrase that… we’re talking about pollution.”
“Pollution leads to climate change,” he continued, “and pollution kills.”
“I’ve made it my mission to reduce greenhouse gases around the world because I care about a healthy body and a healthy planet,” Schwarzenegger told Smith. “I fight for that. And this is my crusade.”
