Renowned actor Danny Glover has disclosed that he has been living with Alzheimer's disease for several years. The 79-year-old Emmy winner shared his diagnosis, which he received not long after an honorary Oscar in 2022, in an interview that aired Wednesday.
While his speech, movements, and memory have slowed since the diagnosis, Glover stated he remains active and can cope with the condition. "I can live with it in a sense," Glover said in the pre-taped interview. "I'm sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing."
Glover, celebrated for his roles in the "Lethal Weapon" film series and "The Color Purple," spoke with his family about his condition. They expressed a desire to help de-stigmatize Alzheimer's by speaking openly about his experience. "I think it's really important for him to have control of his own narrative, of his own life story," said Glover's daughter, Mandisa. "That's really important. And the time is now. What better time but now for him to speak for himself?"
Alzheimer's disease, a form of dementia that impacts memory, thinking, and behavior, affects an estimated 7 million people in the U.S. over the age of 65. Symptoms typically worsen over time and can interfere with daily activities.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, older Black Americans like Glover are twice as likely as older white Americans to develop Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. Research has not yet identified the cause of this disparity.
Glover, who began his acting career in his early 20s and has amassed over 170 acting credits, reflected on his career. He gained widespread recognition in the 1980s for his portrayal of Detective Roger Murtaugh opposite Mel Gibson's Martin Riggs in the "Lethal Weapon" franchise. His other notable film credits include "Places in the Heart" (1984) and "The Color Purple" (1985).
A proponent of social justice, Glover established a production company aimed at developing and funding politically relevant films. "We have challenges in the world," Glover said in the interview. "I think art becomes a reframe, a way of looking at that, you know?"