Veteran American actor and activist Danny Glover has opened up about his multi-year journey living with Alzheimer’s disease, sharing his diagnosis publicly in a new interview to challenge widespread stigma surrounding the neurodegenerative condition. The 79-year-old performer, best known for his decades-long career on screen and his lifelong advocacy for social justice, told NBC in an interview that aired Wednesday that he received his diagnosis shortly after being awarded an honorary Oscar in 2022.
Since receiving that diagnosis, Glover acknowledged that his speech, movement and memory have gradually slowed, but he emphasized that he continues to maintain an active lifestyle. “I can live with it in a sense,” Glover shared in the pre-taped conversation with former NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt, which aired on *The Today Show*. “I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing.”
A four-time Emmy Award winner with over 170 acting credits spanning more than five decades, Glover rose to global fame in the 1980s for his portrayal of Detective Roger Murtaugh opposite Mel Gibson in the blockbuster *Lethal Weapon* franchise. He also earned widespread critical acclaim for his roles in iconic films including 1984’s *Places in the Heart* and 1985’s *The Color Purple*. Beyond his acting work, Glover founded a production company focused on developing and financing films centered on progressive political and social themes, a reflection of his longstanding commitment to social justice causes.
Glover and his family made the deliberate choice to speak out about his diagnosis to shift harmful public narratives around Alzheimer’s, a disease that currently impacts an estimated 7 million Americans aged 65 and older. For Glover’s daughter Mandisa Glover, the decision to let her father control his own story could not wait. “I think it’s really important for him to have control of his own narrative, of his own life story,” she said. “That’s really important. And the time is now. What better time but now for him to speak for himself?”
Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, gradually impairs memory, cognitive function and behavior, with symptoms typically worsening over time until they interfere with basic daily activities. Data from the U.S. Alzheimer’s Association highlights a stark racial disparity in diagnosis rates: older Black Americans like Glover are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia as older white Americans, though researchers have not yet pinpointed the root causes of this gap. Reflecting on his legacy and the role of creativity in navigating life’s challenges, Glover noted: “We have challenges in the world. I think art becomes a reframe, a way of looking at that, you know?”