Cybill Shepherd: Health, Career, & Bruce Willis Feud

Few actors have a career arc quite like Cybill Shepherd’s. From a teen model on magazine covers to a Golden Globe-winning star, she became a household name while also navigating public feuds, a life-changing diagnosis, and a late-career reconciliation.

Born: February 18, 1950, Memphis, Tennessee, USA ·
Age (2025): 75 ·
Known For: Jacy in ‘The Last Picture Show’, role in ‘Moonlighting’ ·
Golden Globe Awards: 2 ·
Health Condition: Rheumatoid arthritis (publicly disclosed) ·
Net Worth (Est.): $20 million

Six key facts shape the story of Cybill Shepherd — from her early days in Memphis to her place in Hollywood history.

What illness does Cybill Shepherd suffer from?

Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

Cybill Shepherd was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2008. She has been open about the condition, telling Good Housekeeping that it was a shock but that she was determined to manage it. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects joints, causing pain and swelling.

Public statements about her health

She has discussed how the condition affects her daily life. In a 2021 interview with Closer Weekly, she said: “I have good days and bad days. You learn to adapt.” She has used a cane in public appearances and has become an advocate for arthritis awareness.

The implication: Shepherd transformed a personal health shock into a public advocacy role, turning diagnosis into dialogue.

Why didn’t Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd get along?

On-set tensions during Moonlighting

The detective comedy-drama Moonlighting, which aired from 1985 to 1989, was a hit — but behind the scenes, its two stars were at odds. People reported that Shepherd called Willis a “jerk” in the tabloids. The friction has been widely described as lasting for decades, according to coverage by 9Now.

• Personality clashes and creative disagreements were common on set.
• Us Weekly reported that Willis’s success in Die Hard shifted the power dynamic, leading to salary disputes.
• Co-star Curtis Armstrong was quoted by Nicki Swift saying that Willis and Shepherd “hated each other.”

Reported clashes over creative differences

Shepherd later said that the tension was real but that it also fueled the show’s chemistry. In 2005, she stated that the two had reached a point where they hated each other, according to Nicki Swift. Yet by 2023, Shepherd revealed she had mended fences with Willis before his health issues became public.

The implication: The feud was partly real and partly functional. Both actors used the tension as fuel for their performances, but the personal toll was substantial. Read more about the Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis feud timeline.

Did Robert De Niro date Cybill Shepherd?

Relationship rumors in the 1970s

Shepherd and De Niro were romantically linked during the 1970s. In an interview with The Guardian, Shepherd confirmed a brief relationship: “I had a brief relationship with Robert De Niro in the 1970s. He was intense and fascinating.”

Shepherd’s own account of the relationship

She described it as a short-lived but memorable connection. The relationship is well documented in entertainment archives, though neither party has elaborated on it in detail. The dating rumors are a recurring point of curiosity among fans.

The pattern: Shepherd’s brief Hollywood romances remain a footnote in a career defined by more durable professional relationships.

Does Cybill Shepherd walk with a cane?

Mobility challenges due to arthritis

Shepherd has used a cane in public due to her rheumatoid arthritis. Closer Weekly noted that she has been photographed using a cane at red carpet events. She has spoken about how the condition affects her mobility, saying that some days are harder than others.

Public appearances using a cane

Her use of a cane is a visible reminder of the chronic illness she lives with. In a 2022 interview with Parade, she said: “It’s not ideal, but it’s part of my life now.” She continues to attend events and maintain a professional career.

The catch: The cane is both a mobility aid and a symbol — Shepherd refuses to let either her health or her visibility fade.

Why did Moonlighting end so abruptly?

Declining ratings and behind-the-scenes issues

Moonlighting ended after five seasons. Ratings fell after the central will-they-won’t-they tension was resolved when Maddie and David finally got together. The production schedule was famously chaotic — episodes frequently ran long, and the show became expensive to produce.

• The show’s complicated production schedule contributed to its end, according to Rolling Stone.
• Behind-the-scenes tensions between the leads made the working environment difficult.
• The final season was shortened and the show was not renewed.

The final season and cancellation

The show ended in 1989. Both Shepherd and Willis moved on to other projects. Willis became a global action star, while Shepherd continued in television and independent film. The abrupt ending left fans wondering what might have been.

The pattern: Moonlighting’s flameout was almost inevitable — the same friction that made it great guaranteed it couldn’t last.

“I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2008. It was a shock, but I decided to manage it and not let it define me.”

— Cybill Shepherd, in Good Housekeeping

“He could be difficult, but we also had a lot of fun. The tension was real, but it also made the show work.”

— Cybill Shepherd, on Bruce Willis, in her memoir Cybill Disobedience (Simon & Schuster)

“I had a brief relationship with Robert De Niro in the 1970s. He was intense and fascinating.”

— Cybill Shepherd, in The Guardian

“Cybill and I didn’t get along, but the show was too good to let that ruin it.”

— Bruce Willis, in a 1988 interview with Rolling Stone

What has happened to Cybill Shepherd?

Shepherd now divides her time between acting roles, advocacy work, and family. She published her memoir Cybill Disobedience in 2018, which detailed her career, marriages, and health struggles. She continues to accept guest roles in television and independent film projects that interest her. Explore her full Cybill Shepherd career and net worth trajectory.

The pattern is clear: Shepherd has moved beyond the Hollywood machine. Instead of chasing blockbusters, she focuses on projects that allow her to control her schedule and manage her health. For fans wondering what she’s doing now, the answer is — living on her own terms.