Danny Glover won an honorary Oscar in 2022 for his humanitarian efforts. Shortly afterward, he began to suffer from health issues. The beloved actor spoke out for the first time and revealed a heartbreaking diagnosis. Keep reading for all the details.
Danny Glover Breaks Silence, Reveals Heartbreaking Diagnosis
Danny Glover starred in nearly 200 films in his long career. He began acting in 1979. He co-starred alongside Kevin Costner in the 1985 Western Silverado. But his most memorable role was as ornery cop Roger Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon. The duo of Murtaugh and Martin Riggs, played by Mel Gibson, was comedy gold. The franchise’s popularity spawned four movies, with a fifth in development.
One of Danny Glover’s last roles was starring as Santa in the Disney+ movie The Naughty Nine in 2023. He may not return to acting. The beloved movie star sat down with the Today Show to reveal a heartbreaking diagnosis.
Danny Glover, 79, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2023 after exhibiting symptoms a year earlier. “I could live with it, in a sense. I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing,” he said about the diagnosis.
He chose to speak out while he still can. His daughter, Mandisa, joined him for the interview. “I think it’s really important for him to have control of his own narrative, of his own life story. That’s really important. And the time is now. What better time but now for him to speak for himself?”
Danny Glover and his family have teamed up with the Alzheimer’s Association to spread awareness about the terminal illness. On average, people with Alzheimer’s live four to eight years after being diagnosed.
His Daughter Reveals 1st Sign Of Illness
Danny Glover is a huge Hollywood star, but he lives a quiet life in San Francisco, California. He welcomed PEOPLE magazine into his home for an extensive interview about his health. His daughter revealed that she noticed a decline in 2022, the same year he won the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscars.
“The history of my dad is that he remembers every single thing back to 1970, what corner he was standing on, who he spoke to, what they spoke about, what color they were wearing, everything,” she says. But that changed. “He’d tell you so much about his parents — and I’ve heard those stories over and over — and there would be pieces of the story missing,” Mandisa shared.
Danny Glover has been secretly battling the disease, but he wants to use what time he has left to be of service. “I don’t feel like it’s the end of my life. There’s work to do,” he told PEOPLE.
Veteran WABC-TV anchor Bill Ritter recently stepped down from his role after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Danny Glover didn’t reveal if he’s retired from acting amid his health issues. Stay tuned for more on this developing story.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
