Hollywood legend Danny Glover has revealed he is battling Alzheimer’s disease in an emotional new interview that has left longtime fans stunned.
The 79-year-old actor, beloved by generations for his unforgettable roles in Lethal Weapon, The Color Purple and countless other films, opened up about his diagnosis during a Today show segment with Lester Holt that aired Wednesday morning.
Glover said he was diagnosed not long after receiving his honorary Oscar in 2022 — a career-capping moment that should have been pure celebration.
Instead, the veteran star was quietly facing a terrifying new chapter.
“I could live with it in a sense,” Glover said during the pre-taped sitdown.
But the actor did not sugarcoat what may come next.
“I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing,” he admitted.
The heartbreaking revelation gives fans a rare and deeply personal look at the private battle being faced by one of Hollywood’s most respected performers.
Glover said he is leaning on his loved ones as he faces the disease, praising his family for standing firmly beside him.
“They absolutely got my back,” he said.
His daughter, Mandisa Glover, also appeared in the interview and explained why her father decided now was the right time to speak publicly.
She said it is “really important” for him to have “control of his own narrative, of his own life story.”
“What better time but now for him to speak for himself?” she said.
Mandisa added that people had begun asking questions, and she did not want to pretend everything was fine when the family was facing something so serious.
“I don’t want to be a dishonest person and say, ‘Oh, yeah, everything is all right. It’s all great,’” she said.
Even while discussing his health, Glover also reflected on the remarkable career that made him a household name.
He pointed to Places in the Heart, the 1984 drama starring Sally Field, as his favorite project of all.
But for Glover, his legacy is about far more than red carpets and movie roles.
The actor said he remains focused on teaching young people about responsibility, justice and the power of change.
“Justice is our collective responsibility,” he said.
Glover added that one of the biggest lessons he learned from his parents was that people have the ability to transform their own lives.
“They become the architect of their change,” he said.
The Alzheimer’s diagnosis is not the first health struggle Glover has discussed publicly.
The actor has previously opened up about living with epilepsy after suffering his first seizure at just 15 years old. He treated the condition with medication for about 20 years and eventually learned to recognize when a seizure was coming on.
At one point, Glover said, he could warn people around him by saying, “Something is happening to me. Please grab me. Please hold me. I’m about to have a seizure.”
He once recalled feeling a seizure coming on backstage during a play and repeatedly telling himself, “I will not have this seizure.”
Each time, he said, he felt stronger until the symptoms eased and he was able to walk onstage.
Glover has said he has not suffered a seizure since he was 35.
Now, decades later, the actor is once again facing a serious health battle — this time with the same honesty and quiet strength that have defined much of his life and career.
For fans who grew up watching him on screen, the news is heartbreaking.
But for Glover, the message is clear: he wants to tell his own story, in his own words, while he still can.
