Danny Glover and 7 Other Famous Actors Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s

Actor Danny Glover has long been admired for his powerful performances and decades of work in film and television. Recently, the beloved star revealed that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, bringing renewed attention to a condition that affects millions of people and their families around the world.

His announcement has sparked an outpouring of support from fans while also highlighting the emotional and personal challenges that come with the diagnosis. Glover is not the only well-known figure to face this battle. Over the years, several celebrated actors have spoken publicly about living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, helping raise awareness and reduce stigma. Here’s a look at Danny Glover and seven other famous actors diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

1 Danny Glover

Danny Glover, the acclaimed actor known for films like Lethal Weapon and The Color Purple, recently revealed that he has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for the past several years. During an appearance on Today, Glover shared that he was diagnosed not long after receiving an honorary Oscar in 2022.

Speaking openly about his condition, he shared, “I could live with it, in a sense. I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing.” Glover also shared that his speech, movements, and memory have slowed since the diagnosis. Despite these challenges, he continues to stay active, attend events, and remain involved in his San Francisco community. With the support of his family, the veteran actor is facing the condition with strength and courage.

2 Gena Rowlands

Gena Rowlands, the celebrated actress known for A Woman Under the Influence, The Notebook, and many acclaimed films across a career spanning decades, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The news was shared by her son, director Nick Cassavetes, in 2024, who revealed that Rowlands had been living with the illness for the last five years.

Speaking about her condition, he told Entertainment Weekly, “She’s in full dementia,” while reflecting on the emotional connection between her real life and her role in The Notebook, where she played the older Allie Calhoun. Rowlands had also expressed that playing a character with Alzheimer’s was especially difficult because she had seen her own mother struggle with the disease. Gena Rowlands passed away on August 14, 2024, at the age of 94.

3 Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston, the Oscar-winning actor known for Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments and Planet of the Apes, revealed in 2002 that he had symptoms consistent with Alzheimer’s disease. He shared the news through a public statement.

“I’m neither giving up nor giving in,” Heston said, as per CBS News, showing determination in the face of the illness. He also told fans, “For an actor, there is no greater loss than the loss of his audience. I can part the Red Sea, but I can’t part with you.” Heston later stepped away from public life and passed away in 2008 at the age of 84 (People).

4 Joanne Woodward

Joanne Woodward, the Oscar-winning actress known for The Three Faces of Eve and a long, acclaimed Hollywood career, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2007. The diagnosis came at a heartbreaking time, just days before her husband, actor Paul Newman, was diagnosed with terminal cancer (Los Angeles Times).

Woodward later retired from acting, with her final screen credit being the voice role of Doris in Lucky Them in 2013 (IMDb). Since then, Woodward has stepped away from public life and has rarely been seen in public. In 2022, director Ethan Hawke revisited her life and career in the HBO Max documentary The Last Movie Stars, which explored the love story and legacy of Woodward and Newman.

5 Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan, who spent two decades in Hollywood before becoming the 40th president of the United States, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1994. The actor-turned-politician shared the news in a handwritten letter, telling the people of America, “I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead” (Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum).

Before entering politics, Reagan appeared in more than 50 films and several television programs, making him one of the best-known actors to later move into public office. Over the years, Reagan’s condition worsened significantly. Former first lady Nancy Reagan revealed that he could no longer hold a conversation that made sense and had stopped recognizing many friends and visitors (The New York Times).

She also said his decision to speak openly about the diagnosis helped reduce the stigma around Alzheimer’s, making other families feel more comfortable talking about it. Reagan passed away in 2004 at his Los Angeles home after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

6 Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth, the Hollywood icon known for films like Gilda, The Lady from Shanghai and You’ll Never Get Rich, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1981 after years of troubling symptoms. Before the diagnosis, her memory loss and changes in behavior were often misunderstood and blamed on alcoholism.

Hayworth became one of the first major celebrities linked publicly to Alzheimer’s, helping bring attention to a disease that was not widely understood at the time. Her daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, later became a strong advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness and research. In 1984, she launched the first Rita Hayworth Gala in her mother’s honor (Alzheimer’s Association), an event that went on to raise millions for Alzheimer’s research and support. Hayworth passed away in 1987 at age 68.

7 Burgess Meredith

Burgess Meredith, the veteran actor known for Rocky, Of Mice and Men, and his memorable turn as the Penguin in the 1960s Batman series, also battled Alzheimer’s disease. Meredith had a career that spanned around six decades, earning praise for his work in both film and television, including Oscar-nominated performances in Rocky and Day of the Locust.

He passed away in 1997 at the age of 89, and his family revealed that he had been suffering from Alzheimer’s along with other health complications (The New York Times). However, not much is publicly known about when he was diagnosed or how long he had been living with the disease. Even so, his legacy as a versatile and beloved performer remains firmly intact.

8 Peter Falk

Peter Falk, the Emmy-winning actor best known for playing detective Columbo, was reported to have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2008. Court filings from his daughter, Catherine Falk, revealed that the actor could no longer recognize familiar people, places, or things and needed full-time care for his safety (Telegraph).

She also said he struggled with memory loss and confusion, sometimes forgetting real events and remembering things that had not happened. Falk had continued working until the later years of his life, but his condition eventually worsened. The actor also earned Oscar nominations for Murder, Inc. and Pocketful of Miracles. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 83 after living with dementia for several years (BBC).

The stories of these stars show that Alzheimer’s can touch anyone, no matter how famous or accomplished they are. By speaking openly about their diagnoses, many of them also helped bring greater awareness, understanding, and compassion to a disease that affects millions of families around the world.