Danny Glover, the acclaimed actor best known for his role as Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film series, has disclosed that he has been living with Alzheimer's disease for several years. The 79-year-old made the announcement during an interview on The Today Show, revealing that he was diagnosed not long after receiving an honorary Oscar in 2022.
Living with the Diagnosis
In the interview, Glover explained that he has experienced slowing of his movements, speech, and memory. 'I could live with it, in a sense. I'm sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing,' he said. He credited the support of his family, stating, 'They have got my back,' as a key factor in his coping process.
Glover's daughter, Mandisa, emphasized the importance of him speaking 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 said.
Glover's Perspective on the Future
Speaking to People magazine, Glover admitted he is 'still not accepting in my mind all parts of it.' He reflected on moments that validate his memory, saying, '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.'
Glover added a message of resilience: '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.'
A Storied Career
Over nearly four decades, Glover has amassed more than 170 film and television credits. His film debut came in Escape from Alcatraz in 1979, but he rose to fame in the 1980s playing Detective Roger Murtaugh opposite Mel Gibson's Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon franchise. He also starred in Places in the Heart, The Color Purple, and Predator 2. His work has earned him five Emmy Awards and four Grammy Awards.
Humanitarian Work
Beyond acting, Glover served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme from 1998 to 2004, focusing on global campaigns against poverty, disease, and HIV/AIDS in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In 2004, he was also appointed a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.
