Danny Glover, the 79-year-old actor renowned for roles in "Lethal Weapon" and "The Royal Tenenbaums," has publicly confirmed his Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. In an emotional interview with NBC's "Today" on Wednesday, Glover revealed he received the diagnosis shortly before accepting an honorary Academy Award in 2022.
"I can live with it in a sense," Glover told "Today" host Lester Holt. "I'm sure as it advances, different things will be different and changing." In a separate interview with People, also published Wednesday, Glover added, "I'm still not accepting in my mind all parts of it. 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."
Alzheimer's Impact on Black Men
According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 7 million Americans aged 65 and older currently live with the neurodegenerative disease, which impairs memory, problem-solving, and thinking abilities. As Wednesday's "Today" segment highlighted, Black men are affected by Alzheimer's at a rate double the national average. Glover and his family hope to boost awareness within the community and beyond.
"We all get old. It happens," Glover's daughter, Mandisa Glover, told the outlet. "That's what I think is important ― that he tells his story, he has ownership of his life."
Glover's Career and Advocacy
A San Francisco native, Glover made his big-screen debut in 1979's "Escape From Alcatraz" alongside Clint Eastwood. His Hollywood breakout came eight years later when he portrayed homicide detective Roger Murtaugh in "Lethal Weapon," co-starring Mel Gibson. The action-comedy was a critical and commercial success, spawning three sequels, the most recent being 1998's "Lethal Weapon 4."
Glover, a four-time Emmy nominee, has continued acting in recent years, including a guest appearance on "Black-ish" in 2020 and portraying Santa Claus in the 2023 Disney+ film "The Naughty Nine." He has used his platform as an outspoken human rights advocate, appointed a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2004. He co-founded the independent film company Louverture Films in 2005 and remains a principal partner.
