Lethal Weapon star Danny Glover has publicly revealed he is living with Alzheimer's disease, disclosing that he received the diagnosis several years ago and is determined to face the condition on his own terms. The 79-year-old actor made the announcement during a television interview, marking the first time he has spoken openly about his health.

Glover said the diagnosis came "not long" after he was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2022, meaning he has been navigating the condition for approximately three years. He described noticeable changes to his daily life, acknowledging that his movements, speech and memory have all slowed as the disease has progressed.

Glover's own words: 'I still have my daughter, I have friends'

Despite the gravity of the diagnosis, Glover struck a tone of resilience and perspective when discussing his condition publicly. "I don't feel like it's the end of my life. There's work to do. I still have my daughter, I have friends. I want to just say, your life continues," he said.

He also spoke candidly about the psychological challenge of accepting what is happening to him. "I'm still not accepting in my mind all parts of it," he said, adding that there are moments of strong memory that reassure him, alongside an awareness that the condition is real and advancing. "There are the moments that you keep remembering that validate the fact that you can remember stuff. And there are moments I'll never forget."

Glover said reconciling himself with the diagnosis meant "acknowledging that it's happening to you and at the same time that there are millions of people suffering from it" — a framing that places his personal experience within the much broader reality of Alzheimer's worldwide.

He added that his family has been central to his ability to cope. "They have got my back," he said, crediting their support as a key source of strength during this period.

Daughter Mandisa says 'the time is now'

Glover's daughter Mandisa also participated in the interview, explaining why the family felt it was the right moment for her father to speak publicly. She said it was "really important" for him to be able to tell his story in his own voice and on his own terms.

"What better time but now for him to speak for himself? It's important because people ask questions sometimes, and I don't want to be a dishonest person and say, 'Oh, yeah, everything is all right. It's all great'," Mandisa said. Her comments suggest the family had been fielding questions about Glover's health for some time before deciding to go public.

A career spanning nearly four decades

Glover's announcement comes after a career that has made him one of Hollywood's most recognisable faces. He made his film debut in Escape From Alcatraz in 1979, but rose to genuine stardom through the 1980s playing the wry and world-weary Detective Roger Murtaugh alongside Mel Gibson in the Lethal Weapon franchise. He went on to appear in acclaimed films including The Colour Purple, Places In The Heart and Predator 2, accumulating more than 170 film and television credits across his nearly 40-year career.

His achievements have been recognised with five Emmy Awards and four Grammy Awards.

Beyond acting, Glover has been a committed humanitarian figure. He served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme between 1998 and 2004, contributing to global campaigns targeting poverty, disease and HIV/Aids across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. He was subsequently appointed as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF in 2004.

Glover's decision to speak openly about his Alzheimer's diagnosis is being seen as a moment to help reduce stigma around the disease, which affects millions of people globally.