Danny Glover has revealed he has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years, announcing the diagnosis during an interview on The Today Show on July 1, per theguardian.com.
The 79-year-old, best known for his role as Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon franchise, said he was diagnosed “not long” after receiving an honorary Oscar in 2022. He described how the condition has affected his movements, speech and memory, but stressed that he does not view it as the end of his career or life.
Glover’s daughter Mandisa, who joined him for the interview, said it was “really important” for her father to speak on his own terms. She added that she did not want to be dishonest when people asked questions about his health.
Speaking separately to People magazine, Glover said he was “still not accepting in my mind all parts of it”. He added: “I don’t feel like it’s the end of my life. There’s work to do. Your life continues.”
The actor has amassed more than 170 film and television credits across a career spanning nearly four decades. Following his 1979 debut in Escape From Alcatraz, he rose to prominence in the 1980s alongside Mel Gibson in the Lethal Weapon series. His other notable credits include The Color Purple, Places in the Heart and Predator 2. He has received five Emmy nominations and four Grammy nominations.
Beyond acting, Glover served as a United Nations Development Programme goodwill ambassador from 1998 to 2004, campaigning against poverty and disease in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. He was appointed a Unicef goodwill ambassador in 2004.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting memory, thinking and behaviour. Public figures disclosing their diagnoses have historically helped raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding the condition.
•Featured image: Danny Glover in 2022 at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles. Photograph: Jordan Strauss/AP