Danny Glover Reveals How Alzheimer’s Has Changed His Life at Home

Famed actor Danny Glover has candidly revealed how his life has changed after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease—opening up about the most difficult elements of his journey thus far, while vowing to continue moving forward, with the help of his family and loved ones.

The 79-year-old “Lethal Weapon” star was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2023, but has only just publicly shared his health struggles, explaining in interviews with both People magazine and the “Today” show how they have affected his day-to-day life at his longtime townhouse in San Francisco.

Speaking to People, Glover and his daughter, Mandisa, 50, explained that the diagnosis came after she began to notice changes in his demeanor and his memory in 2022.

In the three years since he was given the news about his condition, the actor said he has come to terms with much of it, but admitted that there are still days when he struggles to understand what is happening to him.

“I’m still not accepting in my mind all parts of it,” Glover said. There are moments that remind him he can still remember important parts of his life.

“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,” he added.

Today, Glover lives in his longtime home in San Francisco, where he is surrounded by a close-knit support system, which includes his daughter, his younger brother, Marty, 67, and a team of caregivers.

The actor explained to “Today” that they have been integral in the management of his illness, proudly stating: “They’ve got my back.”

However, he conceded that things will likely change as his condition develops.

“I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing,” he noted.

Currently, his family says his mind is often sharpest in the mornings, when he enjoys reading and keeping up with current events.

 “He’s aware sometimes and then sometimes not,” Mandisa told People.

Glover’s daughter said she first became concerned after noticing that her father—once known for recalling even the smallest details from decades earlier—began leaving parts of familiar stories out. Those changes eventually led to his diagnosis.

“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. 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. I said, ‘I wonder what’s going on,'” she explained.

His brother echoed Mandisa’s thoughts, noting that seeing Glover’s talent firsthand his entire life has made the experience more “heartbreaking.”

“You see the deterioration, and you think, ‘Wow.’ Sometimes you get emotional about it. It’s tough, because you don’t want to see nobody go through this,” he said.

Despite the challenges Alzheimer’s has brought, Glover said he doesn’t view the diagnosis as the end of his life.

Instead, he hopes that by sharing his experience publicly, he can help others facing the disease and continue serving the causes that have defined much of his career.

“I don’t feel like it’s the end of my life,” he said. He still believes “there’s work to do.”

The Oscar honoree reflected on a career that has included acclaimed performances in “The Color Purple,” “Places in the Heart,” and the “Lethal Weapon” franchise, as well as decades of humanitarian and civil rights advocacy.

Although Alzheimer’s has affected his memory, he said his passion for making a difference remains unchanged.

Glover revealed that his memory is best in the mornings: “When I wake up, I try to figure out something,” he said. “Reading something, looking at something. ‘Democracy Now!’ is a show that I love.” 

In addition to using TV shows to refresh his memory, he also uses photos, specifically a framed picture of him and his parents.

“There’s a picture in my living room with my mother and father. I have it to remind me, looking at it, how much I loved them both,” he revealed.

With the support of his loved ones, Glover is now focused on living each day as fully as possible.

“I still have my daughter, I have friends,” he said. “I want to just say, ‘Your life continues.'”

Mandisa confessed that it has been “depressing” to see her father dealing with the disease.

“It’s a change in the core of who you think you are or don’t think you are,” she said. “It’s very hard. You just have to live the day for what it is.”

Marty added, “We just want him to live his best life, like he made us live ours.”