Glover's Alzheimer's Journey and Advocacy
Danny Glover Reveals Alzheimer's Diagnosis, Continues Advocacy and Work Amid Health Challenges
Key Points
Glover has founded a production company dedicated to making socially conscious, politically relevant films from underserved communities around the world.
He previously served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (1998–2004) and for UNICEF in 2004.
Glover was honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2021 Academy Awards for his activism.
He has a long history with epilepsy, having his first seizure at age 15 and taking medication for about two decades, with moments when he could sense a seizure before it happened.
Reports note Belafonte’s visits and the significance of Glover’s San Francisco home life, including gatherings with family, caregivers, and fellow icons in a historic townhouse.
Danny Glover, the 79-year-old star of the "Lethal Weapon" franchise, has revealed he is living with Alzheimer's disease. He shared the news in an exclusive sit-down with NBC's Today Show on June 15, 2026, telling the world: "I have always been a fighter. This is just a different kind of resistance." Today Show
Glover was formally diagnosed in late 2023, after noticing memory lapses during public speaking. He has since quietly adjusted his schedule, stepping back from demanding lead roles. But he has not stepped away from work or advocacy. People reports he remains active through his production company, Louverture Films, which has produced more than 30 projects focused on underserved communities worldwide.
Glover Brings Alzheimer's Diagnosis Into the Open
Glover told NBC's Lester Holt that the disease has affected his memory, speech, and daily functioning. He said the first signs appeared around early 2022, near the time he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Governors Awards. A formal diagnosis followed in late 2023. Deadline reports that despite these challenges, Glover continues to attend events and engage with the public.
His daughter, Mandisa Glover, has taken an active role in managing his care and his public story. The family's goal is clear: let Glover control his own narrative. "Things are going to be different," Glover acknowledged — but he frames the diagnosis as a new chapter, not an ending. Sun Herald
Epilepsy History Shaped His Approach to Illness
Glover has long dealt with serious health challenges. He had his first epileptic seizure at age 15 and took medication for roughly 20 years. He developed a method of intense mental focus to sense a seizure before it hit — a kind of internal early-warning system. He grew out of the condition around age 35. Mahoning Matters
He now calls that experience "preparedness training" for Alzheimer's. The idea is the same: accept the loss of control, then find a way to work within it. His wife, Eliane Cavalleiro, a Brazilian scholar, serves as his primary emotional anchor and helps manage his daily routine. People
Black Americans Face Double the Alzheimer's Risk
Glover's disclosure carries extra weight because of who he is and who he represents. Black Americans are roughly two times more likely to develop Alzheimer's or other dementias than white Americans, according to the Alzheimer's Association's 2024 data. Diagnosis in Black communities is often delayed due to systemic medical bias and cultural stigma. Hungama Express
Dr. Maria Carrillo of the Alzheimer's Association called Glover's transparency "revolutionary" for the Black community. His reveal was timed to align with a push to reauthorize the National Alzheimer's Project Act. On June 28, 2026, the Alzheimer's Association and several UN agencies released statements of support, launching a new advocacy campaign with Glover at the center. Head Topics
A Lifetime of Activism Guides His Next Fight
Glover's humanitarian record is long. He served as a UN Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador from 1998 to 2004, then moved to UNICEF in 2004. He co-founded Louverture Films to make politically conscious films from the Global South. Now, he is turning that same mission toward health equity — pushing for better access to early diagnosis tools and caregiving resources in underserved communities. Deadline
A June 22 cover story in People showed Glover and his family at their historic San Francisco townhouse — the command center for both his care and his film work. Friends, caregivers, and family gather there regularly. The portrait that emerges is not one of defeat. It is one of a man choosing, in his own words, "to be present in the gaps of my memory."
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