Hollywood actor Danny Glover has revealed that he has been living with Alzheimer's disease for several years after receiving the diagnosis in 2022.
The 79-year-old, best known for his roles in the Lethal Weapon films and The Color Purple, shared the news during an emotional interview with Lester Holt that aired on NBC's Today Show.
Glover said he was diagnosed "not long" after receiving an Honorary Academy Award in 2022. While he acknowledged that the disease has affected his speech, movement and memory, he said he is continuing to stay active.
"I can live with it in a sense," Glover said. "I'm sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing."
The award-winning actor said he decided to speak publicly about his diagnosis in the hope of helping to reduce the stigma surrounding Alzheimer's disease.
Danny Glover. Kathy Hutchins, Shutterstock
His daughter, Mandisa Glover, said it was important for her father to tell his own story 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?"
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Glover has earned more than 170 acting credits, becoming one of Hollywood's most recognisable stars.
He rose to international fame in the 1980s playing Detective Roger Murtaugh opposite Mel Gibson's Martin Riggs in the hugely successful Lethal Weapon franchise. He also starred in acclaimed films including Places in the Heart and The Color Purple.
Danny Glover and Mel Gibson. Shutterstock
Away from acting, Glover has long been known for his social justice work and founded a production company focused on developing films exploring political and social issues.
Reflecting on his lifelong passion for storytelling, Glover said art still has an important role to play.
"We have challenges in the world," he said. "I think art becomes a reframe, a way of looking at that, you know?"
According to the Alzheimer's Association, around seven million Americans aged 65 and older are currently living with Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. The condition progressively affects memory, thinking and behaviour, with symptoms typically becoming more severe over time.
