Bill Chris Ellison star, who played DCI Frank Burnside, appeared on Good Morning Britain with his wife Anita after he announced he had a brain disorder.
The 75-year-old actor has lost his ability to speak since suffering a stroke 18 months ago and was diagnosed with aphasia – the same degenerative condition that movie legend Bruce Willis suffers from last week.
Chris and Anita appeared on GMB on Tuesday to talk about the unknown condition, with the actor’s devoted wife admitting that she has been in mourning since the diagnosis.
Devastating: Bill Chris Ellison star, who played DCI Frank Burnside, appeared on Good Morning Britain with his wife Anita after he went public with his devastated brain condition.
Aphasia is a potentially devastating condition that affects one’s ability to understand language, with Anita revealing that she is now a full-time caregiver for her husband.
When asked how the couple coped, Anita explained, “It was very lonely because Chris didn’t come out.”
He was really embarrassed. He grabbed my arm because he knew he couldn’t speak. He didn’t want people to see him like that. We were kind of like hermits really. It’s the same smart guy inside. It’s like going out.
She later added: “I was really in mourning. It took me a long time to get used to it, I cried a lot. I now feel very comfortable.
Legend: Chris played the volatile Burnside for 15 years on The Bill (above) and proved so popular that he had a spin-off in 2000
Speaking about their decision to announce Chris’ diagnosis, Anita said she hopes to raise awareness of the unknown condition.
I saw a big change in Chris. At first, he didn’t want to appear on TV or anyone he knew. People still remember Chris when we go out. Now, I hope people understand.
I wanted people to understand what aphasia is. When you can spread it and educate people… It’s a new word, aphasia. be patient. I will always be there to answer it. I just say “Chris can understand you, he can’t reply.”
Dr Hilary Jones of GMB said he was ‘so happy’ that the couple had made it public, while Kate Garaway revealed that her husband Derek Draper ‘has a version of the condition’ after Covid hit him in 2020.
Appearing in public: The actor, 75, has lost the ability to speak since suffering a stroke 18 months ago and was diagnosed with aphasia – the same degenerative brain disorder Bruce Willis was revealed to have last week
Anita said there has been a glimmer of hope over the past 18 months, explaining: ‘Chris was taking singing lessons before he had a stroke. He has a great voice.
Singing lessons will continue. We’ve had a couple, and that sound came out, and it was really weird. It just needs a little kick.
Chris and Anita announced his diagnosis in an interview with The Sun on Sunday, days after it was announced that Bruce Willis had aphasia.
Anita said Kris “hasn’t uttered any sense in 18 months”.
Chris played the volatile Burnside for 15 years on The Bill and proved so popular that he landed a spin-off in 2000.
Titled Burnside, he saw him working on the National Crime Squad. It ran for only one season, and aired six episodes.
Movie legend: Willis will now retire from acting after being diagnosed with a disorder that impeded his “cognitive abilities” (pictured with his daughter Scout)
He later appeared on EastEnders, a voice-over for Doctor Who, as a contestant on Pointless Celebrities and found himself on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015 alongside Janice Dickinson, Jenna Jameson and Danielle Baldwin.
Chris had a stroke at his Brighton home and Anita found her on the bedroom floor.
The aphasia was only known to a few friends and family, but he was inspired to share it with the wider world after 67-year-old De Harde’s diagnosis.
His family said Wednesday that Willis, who has starred in dozens of action movies, will now retire from acting after being diagnosed with a disorder that impeded his “cognitive abilities.”
He rose to fame on the 1980s comedy-drama television series Moonlighting and appeared in nearly 100 films during his four-decade career, earning him praise for his roles in Pulp Fiction and The Sixth Sense, winning a Golden Globe and two Emmys.
For his part, Anita spoke about their decision to announce Chris’ diagnosis, and said she hopes they will raise awareness of the unknown condition.
But Willis is perhaps best known for playing a ruthless New York cop who chases bad guys in the five Die Hard films, released from 1988 to 2013.
“This is a challenging time for our family and we deeply appreciate your continued love, sympathy and support,” his family said in a statement.
Willis and actress Demi Moore were one of the most popular Hollywood couples in the ’90s until their divorce in 2000, but they remained close after the split.
He is currently married to model and actress Emma Heming and is the father of a total of five children from both women.
Fans: Anita said she has seen a big change in Kris. At first, he didn’t want to appear on TV or anyone he knew. People still remember Chris when we go out. Now, I hope people understand’ (The couple filmed in 2018)
“We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and we wanted to bring in his fans because we know how much he means to you, as you are to him,” the statement signed by the actor’s family and posted on the statement read. Instagram of Demi Moore and their daughter Rumer.
Aphasia is a disorder often caused by stroke that can also result from head trauma or, in rare cases, from neurological disease, said Brenda Rapp, a professor of cognitive sciences at Johns Hopkins University.
Symptoms vary widely and can affect speech, comprehension and ability to read, Raab said in a phone interview. In some cases, aphasia can be treated with speech therapy.
