Chris Tucker Says He’ll ‘Never Forget’ Making Fifth Element with Bruce Willis: ‘I Keep Him in My Prayers’ (Exclusive) – TH

Chris Tucker Says He’ll ‘Never Forget’ Making Fifth Element with Bruce Willis: ‘I Keep Him in My Prayers’ (Exclusive)

Chris Tucker and Bruce Willis

Chris Tucker is sending well wishes to his The Fifth Element costar Bruce Willis.

The comedian, 52, who’s currently touring his stand-up comedy show The Legend Tour across America, tells PEOPLE that while he hasn’t been in contact as of late with Willis’ family, he’s thinking of the actor.

“Of course, I keep him in my prayers and [we had] just great, great times,” Tucker says.

Willis, 68, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, his wife, Emma Eming Willis revealed in February. She shared that his condition had worsened since his family first disclosed news of his aphasia diagnosis and retirement from acting in 2022.

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“Bruce is such a huge star and such a legendary actor,” Tucker tells PEOPLE. “The whole thing was showing up to the set, seeing him was always awesome. I’ll never forget it. Working with him, it was an awesome time.”

1997’s sci-fi blockbuster The Fifth Element, directed by Luc Besson (Lucy), saw Willis play taxi cab driver Korben Dallas, who’s thrust on a quest to save planet Earth after a mysterious young woman (Milla Jovovich) falls into his cab. Tucker played highly flamboyant D.J. Ruby Rhod, who hilariously clashes with Willis’ character.

From left: Chris Tucker, Lee Evans and Bruce Willis in 1997’s “The Fifth Element.”

Tucker is best known for his role as Detective James Carter in the blockbuster action-comedy series Rush Hour — the first of which came out in 1998. Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3, which also starred Jackie Chan as Inspector Lee, were released shortly thereafter.

In the 1990s, Tucker became a favorite on Russell Simmons’ HBO series Def Comedy Jam and rose to fame in his first starring role in the 1995 cult classic Friday, in which he acted alongside Ice Cube.

While rumors of a fourth installment of Rush Hour and Friday have been swirling for years, the actor tells PEOPLE that anyone interested in finding out if his beloved characters are returning would have to come see him on his stand-up comedy tour.

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The Legend Tour which takes place across 30 U.S. cities this fall, comes after Tucker’s seven year hiatus from Hollywood and his recent return to the screen as Howard White, vice president of the Jordan Brand, in the Nike drama AIR, which debuted back in April on Amazon Prime.