1 July 2026
Danny Glover is living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon
The 79-year-old actor – whose acclaimed career includes memorable performances in Lethal Weapon and The Color Purple – said he received the diagnosis not long after being honored with an honorary Academy Award in 2022.
Speaking during an appearance on The Today Show, Glover admitted he is still coming to terms with the life-changing news but remains determined to face the future with honesty.
He said: “I can live with it in a sense. I’m sure as it advances, different things will be different and changing.”
Although he acknowledged that accepting the diagnosis has been difficult, Glover said he continues to hold onto the memories that remind him of who he is.
Talking to People, he reflected: “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.”
The actor also admitted there are still parts of the diagnosis he struggles to fully accept.
Glover said: “I’m still not accepting in my mind all parts of it.”
Glover’s daughter, Mandisa, appeared in a pre-recorded segment during The Today Show and explained why the family felt now was the right time for him to share his story publicly.
She said: “And the time is now. What better time but now for him to speak for himself?”
She added that openness was important to both of them.
Mandisa said: “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.'”
Glover also revealed that one of the most significant moments after his diagnosis came when he realized he was far from alone.
Reflecting on learning he had Alzheimer’s in 2023, he said he had to acknowledge “that it’s happening to you and at the same time that there are millions of people suffering from it”.
Throughout a career spanning more than four decades, Glover has become one of Hollywood’s most respected actors.
He earned worldwide recognition playing Detective Roger Murtaugh opposite Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon movies, while his performances in films including The Color Purple, To Sleep with Anger, Dreamgirls and Sorry to Bother You showcased his remarkable range.
