‘Lethal Weapon’ Star Shares Emotional Health Update After Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Actor Danny Glover has opened up about his health after revealing that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2022. The 79-year-old Lethal Weapon and The Color Purple star shared the news during an appearance on the Today show, where he spoke honestly about living with the condition and how his life may change as the disease progresses.

Glover said he understands that Alzheimer’s will bring challenges in the future, but he is learning to accept his current situation. During his conversation on Today, he said, “I can live with it, in a sense,” while also acknowledging that the disease will continue to affect his daily life. “I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing,” he added.

According to Glover, he received his diagnosis before he was honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2022 Governors Awards, an event held ahead of the Oscars. The award recognized his long career and his humanitarian efforts.

Glover’s daughter, Mandisa, joined him during the Today interview and explained why she believes it was important for her father to share his story publicly. She said that speaking about his experience allows him to “have ownership of his life” while he still can.

In an interview with PEOPLE, Glover admitted that accepting the diagnosis has not been easy. The actor said he is “still not accepting in my mind all parts of” the condition. He also talked about the moments when his memory remains strong and the times when he notices changes.

“There are the moments that you keep remembering that validate the fact that you can remember stuff,” Glover told PEOPLE. “And there are moments I’ll never forget.”

His daughter also reflected on her father’s impressive memory throughout his life. She explained that Glover was known for remembering extremely detailed moments from decades ago, including conversations, locations, and small details that many people would forget.

However, she noticed changes before he received his diagnosis. Mandisa said that when her father told stories about his past, some parts of those memories began to disappear. She recalled thinking, “I wonder what’s going on.”

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition that affects memory, thinking, movement, and speech. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is the most common cause of dementia and occurs when changes in the brain lead to the gradual loss of brain cells.

Throughout his career, Glover has become one of Hollywood’s most respected actors. He gained worldwide recognition for playing Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film series and earned praise for his performance in The Color Purple. He also appeared alongside Sally Field in the acclaimed drama Places in the Heart.

In later years, Glover continued taking on memorable roles, including a part in the original Saw film, which helped launch one of Hollywood’s biggest horror franchises. He also starred in the critically praised 2019 drama The Last Black Man in San Francisco.

Glover has also received recognition for his television work, earning four Emmy Award nominations, including for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in HBO’s Mandela.

By sharing his diagnosis, Glover hopes to continue telling his story in his own words while navigating this new chapter of his life.

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