Danny Glover, one of Hollywood’s most enduring and beloved figures, revealed on Wednesday that he has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years — sharing the news in a candid television interview just weeks before his 80th birthday.
The 79-year-old actor sat down with NBC anchor Lester Holt, 67, at his home for the pre-taped segment, which aired on the Today show on Wednesday. Glover said he received his diagnosis not long after being honored with an honorary Oscar in 2022, and he acknowledged that the disease has gradually slowed his speech, movement and memory.
A Diagnosis He’s Learning to Live With
Speaking with characteristic directness, Glover said he has found a measure of peace with his condition — at least for now. He said, “I could live with it, in a sense,” but added, “I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing.” He credited his family for their steadfast support, saying they have his back through it all.
In a separate conversation with People magazine, Glover was equally frank, saying he is “still not accepting in my mind all parts of it.” He described a complicated relationship with memory — acknowledging both the moments that slip away and the ones he knows will stay with him forever. Despite the uncertainty, he struck a tone of quiet resolve, telling the magazine that he does not feel it is the end of his life and that there is still work left to do.
His daughter, Mandisa, joined Holt for the segment and spoke movingly about why her father chose to share his story publicly. She said it is really important for him to have control of his own narrative and his own life story, and pushed back against any impulse to offer a falsely cheerful account of his health. She said the time is now for him to speak for himself, and that she refuses to be dishonest by suggesting everything is fine when it is not.
A Career Spanning Nearly Four Decades
Glover’s announcement arrives at a moment when his legacy is firmly cemented in American film history. His film debut came in 1979’s Escape From Alcatraz, but it was his portrayal of homicide detective Roger Murtaugh opposite Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon franchise that made him a household name. Over a nearly 40-year career, he has accumulated more than 170 film and television credits, with standout roles in The Color Purple, Places in the Heart alongside Sally Field, and Predator 2. He has also received five Emmy nominations — including one for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela — and four Grammy nominations.
In 2022, the Academy honored Glover with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar reserved for individuals whose humanitarian efforts have brought distinction to the film industry. At that ceremony, actress Alfre Woodard paid tribute to her longtime friend and colleague, praising his lifelong commitment to justice. Woodard noted that Glover was a driving force behind a student walkout that resulted in San Francisco State University establishing its Department of Black Studies.
A Life of Advocacy Beyond the Screen
Glover’s humanitarian work has long extended well beyond Hollywood. He worked with the United Nations Development Programme as a goodwill ambassador beginning in 1998 and continuing through 2004, working on global campaigns targeting poverty, disease and HIV/AIDS across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. He was subsequently appointed as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF in 2004. Reflecting on that legacy in the Today interview, he spoke about the importance of empowering young people and described justice as a collective responsibility.
Health challenges have been part of Glover’s story long before this latest diagnosis. He had his first epileptic seizure at age 15 and managed the condition with medication for roughly the next two decades, eventually learning to recognize the warning signs well enough to alert those around him before an episode struck.
Alzheimer’s Affects Millions of Americans
Glover’s disclosure puts a famous face on a disease that touches an enormous number of families. Nearly 7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s, according to the Mayo Clinic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes it as a degenerative neurological condition that initially causes minor forgetfulness and may ultimately impair an individual’s capacity to perform everyday tasks or interact meaningfully with others.
Glover will turn 80 on July 22. In spite of everything, he told People that he still has his daughter, still has his friends, and wants others facing similar struggles to know that life goes on. “There’s work to do,” he said — and by all indications, he intends to keep doing it.