Danny Glover Opens Up About His Battle with Alzheimer’s Ahead of 80th Birthday
Danny Glover's Health Update
As he approaches his 80th birthday this month, actor Danny Glover has shared a heartfelt update regarding his health. The star of Lethal Weapon revealed that he has been grappling with Alzheimer’s disease for several years. Recently, Glover made a television appearance to discuss his diagnosis and the ways he has been managing it. His daughter, Mandisa, stressed the significance of Glover taking control of his narrative before it becomes too late. With nearly fifty years in the entertainment industry, Glover was honored with an honorary Oscar in 2022.
Glover Talks About His Alzheimer’s Journey on Television
In a pre-recorded segment aired on the Today show on July 1, Glover shared that he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (honorary Oscar) shortly after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. He candidly expressed, "I can live with it, in a sense. I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing." The actor has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association to raise awareness and funds by sharing his personal journey with this challenging condition.
Mandisa, the 79-year-old actor's daughter, emphasized the importance of Glover speaking for himself during this time, stating, "What better time but now for him to speak for himself?" Glover is widely recognized for his iconic role as Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon franchise alongside co-star Mel Gibson. Since his debut in Escape from Alcatraz (1979), he has starred in numerous acclaimed films such as Places in the Heart, The Color Purple, Predator 2, Witness, To Sleep With Anger, Angels in the Outfield, Saw, and the musical Dreamgirls. On the small screen, he has had recurring roles in popular series like Hill Street Blues, ER, and Brothers & Sisters. His latest appearance was in the 2023 TV movie The Naughty Nine, where he played Santa Claus.
Danny Glover's Acclaimed Career in Hollywood
Glover portrayed the South African leader Nelson Mandela in the HBO film Mandela in 1987, which earned him his first Emmy nomination. He later received three more nominations for his performances in the miniseries Lonesome Dove (1989), Showtime's Fallen Angels (1995), and the TV film Freedom Song (2000). Glover won an Independent Spirit Award for his role in To Sleep with Anger in 1991 and has also been nominated for four Grammy Awards for narrating various audiobooks, including Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom in 1993.