Nationwide — Actor Danny Glover revealed he has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for years during an interview. He shared how the condition has slowly changed his daily life while he continues to rely on strong family support.
Glover appeared on Today alongside his family, where he opened up about living with the progressive brain disease. The conversation highlighted how his routine has shifted over time, even as he remains visible at events and engaged with his community in San Francisco.
“I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing,” Glover said.
He said he expects the illness to affect his memory, speech, and movement as it progresses. Still, he pointed to his family as his anchor, saying, “They’ve got my back.”
Alzheimer’s disease impacts more than 7 million Americans over the age of 65. Health experts also note that Black Americans are nearly twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia compared to white Americans. The Alzheimer’s Association continues to highlight the importance of early detection, along with lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, proper sleep, and managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.
Even with noticeable changes in his memory, speech, and movement, Glover remains active in public life. He continues to attend events and stay connected with people in his hometown. He also said he is learning to live with the condition day by day, noting, “I could live with it, in a sense.”
Glover built a career spanning nearly four decades with more than 170 film and television credits. He became widely known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the “Lethal Weapon” films and earned critical praise for performances in “The Color Purple” and “Places in the Heart.” His early exposure to acting at San Francisco State, along with encouragement from playwright Amiri Baraka, helped shape his path in entertainment.
Outside of acting, Glover has long been involved in activism. He worked with the United Nations Development Program and UNICEF, focusing on global poverty and health initiatives. In 2021, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his work in social justice and humanitarian causes.
His daughter, Mandisa Glover, said the family encouraged him to speak publicly so he could share his own experience in his own words.
“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? 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’s younger brother, Martin Glover, also spoke about his role in supporting him. He said the family has grown even closer as they navigate the situation together and rely on shared memories for strength.
“He took me under his wing, and I love him to death. And I’m here to help him now,” Martin said. “It’s my turn. … We talk, and we share times about our parents, our mothers and our family. So it’s all about family.”