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Danny Glover

Danny Glover has built a screen career around authority, emotional weight and an understated warmth that can surface even in his toughest roles. Born in San Francisco on July 22, 1946, he worked in city administration and community development before leaving that path for the stage. He trained at the Black Actors’ Workshop of the American Conservatory Theater and with Jean Shelton at the Shelton Actors Lab, then moved to Los Angeles in search of acting opportunities. Glover made his film debut in Escape from Alcatraz in 1979, with early work including Hill Street Blues and Places in the Heart. His range became especially clear in 1985, when he appeared in The Color Purple, Witness and Silverado—three very different films that established him as a substantial dramatic presence. For many viewers, Glover remains closely associated with Roger Murtaugh, the Los Angeles police sergeant he played across four Lethal Weapon films between 1987 and 1998. The role made fine use of his ability to balance action, exasperated humor and a convincing sense of responsibility. But it represents only one part of a remarkably varied body of work. He played Nelson Mandela in the HBO film Mandela, Joshua Deets in Lonesome Dove and the enigmatic Harry Mention in Charles Burnett’s To Sleep with Anger, winning an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead for the latter performance. His filmography moves comfortably between studio pictures and independent cinema, including Predator 2, Beloved, The Royal Tenenbaums, Saw, Dreamgirls, Sorry to Bother You and The Last Black Man in San Francisco. He has also worked extensively in television and voice acting, with animated credits including The Prince of Egypt, Antz and Barnyard. Beyond acting, Glover has worked as a producer and director. In 1994, he and Ben Guillory founded Los Angeles’ Robey Theatre Company to focus on theatre by and about Black people. His career also reflects a sustained commitment to peace activism, giving his public work a reach well beyond the screen.