The Bill star Chris Ellison has been left unable to speak for the past year and a half since he was diagnosed with the same brain affecting disorder as Bruce Willis.
The 75-year-old TV star was diagnosed with the disorder aphasia – which causes sufferers to lose their ability to speak or communicate – after he suffered a stroke in 2020.
Last Wednesday, family members close to 67-year-old action star Bruce revealed that he was being forced to retire from his acting work after being diagnosed with the condition.
Bruce’s story has encouraged Chris’ family to share their own heartache after the star – who played DCI Frank Burnside on The Bill and spin-off show Burnside, from 1984 until 2000 – was also struck by the illness.
Chris’s 69-year-old wife Anita told The Sun on Sunday: “It’s awful, we’ve been so lonely. Chris is trapped in his body. He can understand everything going on around him but can’t speak, read or write.
“He has not uttered any sense in 18 months. Sometimes I feel as if I have lost my charismatic, very funny and caring husband.
“It’s frustrating for us both but when he looks into my eyes I see he’s still in there. I have cried buckets, it’s a kind of mourning. But he’s still here with us, still very caring and loving.”
The Sun on Sunday gives details of the dramatic hospital dash that Chris endured when he suffered a stroke at his Brighton home almost two years ago.
He was discovered on his bedroom floor by his wife who immediately raised the alarm – but paramedics were unable to carry him down a narrow spiral staircase to get him to hospital.
Instead, the actor was carefully carried out through a roof skylight and then airlifted to hospital in a helicopter where doctors battled to save him following his stroke and a blood clot forming that they couldn’t remove.
After being warned he might not survive the night, Chris pulled through and was later taught to walk and feed himself again as he recovered.
Anita says she is speaking up about Chris’s aphasia to help highlight the condition and to support others who may be struggling following diagnosis.
She said: “I want people who come up to him, to talk to him even if he can’t respond. I hope it’ll break the silence.
“I also hope saying he’s got aphasia will help all the people who have it to be more understood.”
On Wednesday, Hollywood was devastated when it was revealed Bruce Willis will no longer act as his health began to deteriorate.
A statement shared by his 33-year-old daughter, Rumer, said: “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.”
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033.
