Danny Glover is one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors of the last 40 years, giving the world several memorable roles in great movies.
Unfortunately, Glover has made a heartbreaking announcement. On the Today Show, Glover announced that he has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for multiple years. “I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing,” the 79-year-old Glover said about his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Instead of focusing on the disease, we’re choosing to honor Glover by spotlighting his five best movies.
Best Danny Glover movies
Shooter
Most of Glover’s best work came in the first half of his career. However, the actor made a memorable turn as the villain in Shooter. Gunnery Sergeant Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) is recruited by Colonel Isaac Johnson (Glover) to prevent an assassination attempt on the president during an upcoming speech.
During the event, a sniper kills another political figure. During the chaos, Swagger is framed for the murder and forced to flee. Driven by revenge, Swagger seeks out those who wronged him to clear his name, with Colonel Johnson being one of his targets. Shooter is a fairly down-the-middle revenge thriller, but Glover’s villainous turn is downright ruthless.
Predator 2
Glover followed in the steps of Arnold Schwarzenegger and became the lead of the Predator franchise in Predator 2. The Predator sequel asks: What if the extraterrestrial killing machine from Predator left the jungle and wreaked havoc in the city?
LAPD Lieutenant Mike Harrigan (Glover) is tasked with stopping a string of murders he attributes to a gang war. However, Harrigan eventually learns that his suspect is not human. It’s the Predator, and it won’t be easy to stop. Predator 2 initially received mixed reviews. However, it has since gained a cult following, and Glover’s performance remains a high point in the sequel.
The Color Purple
Glover had been acting before 1985 and appeared in a few smaller roles. However, his breakout came at the end of 1985 in The Color Purple, Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated period drama. The movie follows the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), an African-American woman living in the early 1900s who endures bigotry, abuse, and racism in the Deep South.
Glover plays Albert “Mister” Johnson, Celie’s abusive husband. Not every actor would have been up to playing a complex character and hateful antagonist like Mister. However, Glover has always thrived in challenging roles.
To Sleep with Anger
One of Glover’s strengths as an actor is his humor. He has the comedy chops and timing of a veteran comedian. Glover turned in a masterful performance in To Sleep with Anger, a dark comedy from writer and director Charles Burnett.
Gideon (Paul Butler) lives with his family in South Central Los Angeles. One day, Harry (Glover), an old friend, surprisingly shows up on their doorstep and begins living with them. What feels like a nice gesture eventually becomes a curse as the family begins to unravel during Harry’s stay. It’s masterful work from Glover in this unsettling movie.
Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon was always going to find a spot on this list. Glover’s portrayal of Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon franchise will go down as his most iconic role.
In the first movie, the uptight Roger Murtaugh is paired with the wild Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), who discover a drug trafficking ring and are forced to investigate after a tragic suicide. Glover and Gibson are fantastic as a tandem and remain one of cinema’s most iconic duos in a buddy cop movie.
