Veteran actor Danny Glover has revealed he has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years, sharing his diagnosis publicly at the age of 79.
The Lethal Weapon star announced the news during an interview on The Today Show, explaining that he received the diagnosis “not long” after being awarded an honorary Oscar in 2022.
Glover acknowledged the progressive nature of the condition, stating: “I could live with it, in a sense. I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing.” He noted that his movements, speech, and memory have already begun to slow.
Despite the challenges, Glover emphasised the unwavering support of his family, who he said “have got my back”, helping him navigate the condition. His daughter, Mandisa, underscored the importance of her father speaking out on his own terms.
“And the time is now. What better time but now for him to speak for himself? It’s important because people ask questions sometimes, and I don’t want to be a dishonest person and say, ‘Oh, yeah, everything is all right. It’s all great’,” she explained.
In a separate conversation with People magazine, Glover admitted he was “still not accepting in my mind all parts of it”. He reflected on the mental struggle, adding: “There are the moments that you keep remembering that validate the fact that you can remember stuff. And there are moments I’ll never forget.”
However, he maintained a positive outlook, asserting: “I don’t feel like it’s the end of my life. There’s work to do. I still have my daughter, I have friends. I want to just say, your life continues.” He spoke of reconciling with the diagnosis, which he received three years ago, as “in some sense acknowledging that it’s happening to you and at the same time that there are millions of people suffering from it”.
Throughout a career spanning nearly 40 years, Glover has amassed more than 170 film and television credits. His film debut was in 1979’s Escape From Alcatraz, but he rose to international fame in the 1980s as Roger Murtaugh opposite Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon franchise.
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His extensive filmography also includes roles in Places In The Heart, The Colour Purple and Predator 2. He has been recognised with five Emmys and four Grammys for his work.
Beyond his acting career, Glover has dedicated significant time to humanitarian efforts, serving as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme from 1998 to 2004, focusing on global campaigns against poverty, disease, and combating HIV/Aids across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He was also appointed a goodwill ambassador for Unicef in 2004.