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Danny Glover

Acting

Born July 22, 1946 · San Francisco, California, USA

Also known as Danny Lebern Glover

Biography

Danny Lebern Glover (born July 22, 1946) is an American actor, film director, and political activist. He is best known for his co-starring lead role as Sergeant Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film series. Glover has had a variety of film, stage, and television roles. He starred as the husband to Whoopi Goldberg's character, Celie in the celebrated literary adaptation of The Color Purple, and as Lieutenant James McFee in the film Witness. He had leading roles in other films including To Sleep with Anger, Predator 2, Angels in the Outfield, and Operation Dumbo Drop. He won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead for his starring role in Charles Burnett's To Sleep with Anger. Also, he has had prominent supporting roles in Silverado, Witness, A Rage in Harlem, Dreamgirls, Shooter, Death at a Funeral, Beyond the Lights, Sorry to Bother You, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, The Dead Don't Die, Lonesome Dove and Jumanji: The Next Level. Glover earned top billing for the first time in Predator 2, the sequel to the science fiction action film Predator. During his career, he has also made several cameos, appearing, for example, in the Michael Jackson video "Liberian Girl" of 1987. In 1994, he made his directorial debut with the Showtime channel short film Override. Also in 1994, Glover and actor Ben Guillory founded the Robey Theatre Company in Los Angeles, focusing on theatre by and about black people.

Awards & recognition

  • Academy Honorary Award · 2022
  • Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award · 2022
  • Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres · 2011
  • Eugene V. Debs Award · 2011
  • honorary degree from Spelman College · 2002
Show all 11 awards →
  • Marian Anderson Award · 2002
  • Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award · 1994
  • Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame · 1990
  • Theatre World Award · 1982
  • NAACP Image Award – Chairman's Award
  • Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award · 2021 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

Angels Are Made of Light

2018Executive Producer

And the Children Shall Lead

1985as William

Criminal Minds

2005as Hank Morgan

Capernaum

2018Executive Producer

Chuck Berry: Brown Eyed Handsome Man

2020as Narrator (voice)

Cold Case Files

2017as Self - Narrator (voice)

Psych

2006as Mel Hornsby

Lonesome Dove

1989as Joshua Deets

ER

1994as Charlie Pratt Sr.

My Name Is Earl

2005as Thomas

The Color Purple

1985as Albert

Prayers for the Stolen

2021Co-Producer

Shadow World

2016Executive Producer

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975

2011Producer

Leverage

2008as Charlie Lawson

Hollywood Squares

1998as Self - Panelist

Hill Street Blues

1981

President

2021Executive Producer

Mozart in the Jungle

2014as Mayor

The House I Live In

2012Executive Producer

The Royal Tenenbaums

2001as Henry Sherman

Escape from Alcatraz

1979as Inmate

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962as Self

Saw

2004as David Tapp

The Prince of Egypt

1998as Jethro (voice)

Lethal Weapon

1987as Roger Murtaugh

Civil War Journal

as Host

Human Target

2010as Client

The Time That Remains

2009Associate Producer

The People Speak

2009as Self

Places in the Heart

1984as Moze

White Sun

2016Executive Producer

black-ish

2014as Uncle Norman

Shooter

2007as Colonel Isaac Johnson

Brothers and Sisters

2006as Isaac Marshall

Witness

1985as McFee

The Last Black Man in San Francisco

2019as Grandpa Allen

Concerning Violence

2014Co-Producer

Bamako

2006as Cow-boy

American Dad!

2005as Minstrel Krampus (voice)

The Rainmaker

1997as Richter Tyrone Kipler

Queen

1993as Alec Haley

Lethal Weapon 2

1989as Roger Murtaugh

Jumanji: The Next Level

2019as Milo

Casting By

2012as Self

Trouble the Water

2008Executive Producer

Manderlay

2005as Wilhelm

Maverick

1994as Bank Robber (uncredited)

Captain Planet and the Planeteers

1990as Dr. Apollo (voice)

Silverado

1985as Malachi 'Mal' Johnson