Veteran actor Danny Glover recently disclosed that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The 79-year-old performer stated during an NBC interview that he received the news shortly after receiving an honorary Oscar in 2022. While he noted that his memory, speech, and physical pace have been impacted, he remains engaged with his life.
Glover, famous for his roles in the Lethal Weapon franchise and The Color Purple, joined his family on The Today Show to discuss the diagnosis. His daughter, Mandisa, emphasized that the family chose to go public to allow him to maintain ownership of his story and reduce the stigma surrounding the condition.
The actor is among the roughly 7 million Americans aged 65 and older living with this form of dementia. Data from the Alzheimer’s Association indicates that older Black Americans face a higher risk of developing the disease compared to their white counterparts, though the underlying reasons for this disparity remain unclear. Throughout his career, which spans over 170 acting credits, Glover has balanced his work in cinema with a dedicated pursuit of social justice.
