Danny Glover has revealed he is battling Alzheimer’s disease.
Glover, 79, shared the somber news on the Wednesday, July 1 episode of Today. The actor and philanthropist welcomed veteran journalist Lester Holt into his home to discuss the diagnosis.
“I can live with it, in a sense,” Glover said.
He learned he has the neurodegenerative disease in 2022. The illness has started to affect his speech, mobility and balance.
Still, Glover remained positive when asked if he is worried about the toll the disease will take.
“I’m sure it’s going to be different and changing,” he told Holt.
Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia and affects memory, thinking and behavior, according to the Mayo Clinic. About 7 million people over the age of 65 are living with the disease in the United States. The disorder causes brain cells to die and worsens over time. There is no cure.
Glover’s daughter, Mandisa Glover, also spoke to Holt. The actor’s family members said they hope that by sharing his diagnosis, they can raise awareness about Alzheimer’s.
“We all get old, it happens,” his daughter said. “That’s what I think is important, you know, that he tells his story. He has ownership of his life.”
Glover is best known to fans for his roles in The Color Purple (1985) and the Lethal Weapon films. The San Francisco native got his start as an actor with small parts on TV.
He also had parts in Witness, Places in the Heart, The Royal Tenenbaums, Dreamgirls, Sorry to Bother You, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, and numerous television shows.
The actor has been awarded an honorary Oscar, the NAACP’s President’s Award, and he’s received multiple Emmy nominations.
In 1992, Glover co-founded Los Angeles’ Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) with late actress Ja’Net DuBois and executive director Ayuko Babu. The festival showcases projects from Black creatives that reinforce positive portrayals of African Americans and Africans.
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