Osment remembered that Willis would call him occasionally, especially before trips they took together to promote the film in Japan. He expressed a desire to find and preserve those old voicemails, noting that while he knows Willis's daughters, he hasn't spoken to Bruce since news of his health issues emerged.
In March 2022, Willis's family revealed that he had been diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that affects communication, and later developed into frontotemporal dementia. Reflecting on their time together, Osment described working with Willis as “fantastic,” emphasizing how impactful it was to collaborate with such a significant star at a young age.
Osment had previously worked with Tom Hanks but felt a special excitement working with Willis, as he was already familiar with many of his films. He admired Willis's charisma and professionalism, noting that he set a positive tone on set. Osment explained that he initially expected Willis to embody his famous "Die Hard" persona but was impressed by his ability to portray a much more subdued character in "The Sixth Sense."
He found the contrast between Willis's warm personality and the restrained nature of his character in the film to be an enlightening experience. This helped Osment learn more about acting and the craft of bringing different characters to life. Overall, Osment's memories highlight the lasting impact of working alongside a Hollywood legend like Bruce Willis.