Danny Glover is an American film actor, director, and political activist best known for his roles in major Hollywood productions such as Lethal Weapon, Predator 2, and Escape from Alcatraz. In addition to his long and varied film career, Glover is widely recognized for his commitment to civil rights, social justice, and political activism. He is also known to Turkish audiences for his appearance in Five Minarets in New York, directed by Mahsun Kırmızıgül.

Early Life and Education

Danny Lebern Glover was born on July 22, 1946, in San Francisco, California. His parents, Carrie Glover and James Glover, both worked for the postal service and were active members of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), an organization dedicated to the protection of African American civil rights.

During his childhood, Glover suffered from frequent epileptic seizures. Thanks to sustained medical treatment and personal determination, the condition gradually subsided and completely disappeared by the time he reached his thirties. This early struggle significantly shaped his resilience and discipline.

After graduating from George Washington High School in San Francisco, Glover enrolled at San Francisco State College. He later transferred to American University, where he earned a degree in economics in 1968.

From Public Service to Theater

Following his graduation, Danny Glover initially worked in city administration. At the same time, he deepened his involvement with theater groups, most notably the Black Actors Workshop. This period marked a turning point in his life, as he became increasingly committed to pursuing acting as a profession.

Determined to build a career in film, Glover eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he began auditioning for screen roles and transitioning from theater to cinema.

Early Film Career

Glover’s first notable film appearance came in 1979 with Escape from Alcatraz, directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood. Although his role was relatively small, the film provided Glover with valuable exposure and opened the door to future opportunities.

Throughout the early 1980s, he appeared in various supporting roles, steadily building a reputation as a dependable and intense performer.

Breakthrough with *Lethal Weapon*

Danny Glover achieved international fame in 1987 with Lethal Weapon, portraying LAPD detective Roger Murtaugh. Starring alongside Mel Gibson and Gary Busey, the film was a major commercial success and became one of the defining action movies of its era.

The popularity of the film led to a successful franchise, with sequels released in 1989, 1992, and 1998. Glover reprised the role of Murtaugh in all four installments, solidifying his status as an action cinema icon.

Predator 2 and Dramatic Recognition

In 1990, Glover starred in the science-fiction action film Predator 2, directed by Stephen Hopkins. The film reunited him with Gary Busey and showcased Glover as a commanding lead in a darker, more intense action setting.

The same year, he appeared in To Sleep with Anger, a critically acclaimed drama that earned him the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. Although the film did not achieve the box-office success of *Predator 2*, it marked one of the most respected performances of his career.

Continued Success and Literary Adaptations

In 1998, Glover starred alongside Oprah Winfrey and Thandiwe Newton in Beloved, adapted from the novel by Toni Morrison. The film further demonstrated his range as a dramatic actor and reinforced his association with socially and historically significant projects.

Voice Acting and Family Entertainment

Despite being widely known for adult-oriented action and drama films, Danny Glover also became a familiar presence in family entertainment through voice acting. He contributed to animated productions such as Antz, Our Friend Martin, and Barnyard, collaborating with performers including Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Political Activism and Social Engagement

Beyond acting, Glover has been deeply involved in political activism, particularly in support of African American rights, labor movements, and human rights causes. He serves on the board of the Jazz Foundation of America and has consistently spoken out against war, environmental destruction, and economic inequality.

Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Glover participated in international awareness campaigns addressing climate change and environmental disasters, traveling to countries such as Brazil, Cuba, and Venezuela. He has also been a vocal critic of the Iraq War and publicly expressed skepticism regarding the political impact of Barack Obama’s presidency, arguing that symbolic representation alone does not equate to systemic change.

Filmography

Producer

2015 – Bad Asses on the Bayou – Feature Film
2014 – Regarding Violence – Feature Film
2014 – We Are Many – Feature Film
2003 – The Law and Mr. Lee – TV Movie
2003 – Good Fences – TV Movie

Actor

2019 – Jumanji: The Next Level – Feature Film
2019 – The Last Black Man in San Francisco – Feature Film
2019 – The Dead Don’t Die – Feature Film
2018 – The Old Man & the Gun – Teddy – Feature Film
2018 – Sorry to Bother You – Feature Film
2018 – Come Sunday – Feature Film
2017 – The Good Catholic – Victor – Feature Film
2017 – Death Race 4: Beyond Anarchy – Baltimore Bob – Feature Film
2016 – Mr. Pig – Feature Film
2016 – Complete Unknown – Feature Film
2016 – Monster Trucks – Feature Film
2016 – Back in the Day – Eddie “Rocks” Travor – Feature Film
2016 – A Meyers Christmas – Feature Film
2015 – Waffle Street – Feature Film
2015 – Scout – Red – Feature Film
2015 – Killing Winston Jones – Washington Carver – Feature Film
2015 – Gridlocked – Sully – Feature Film
2015 – Diablo – Benjamin Carver – Feature Film
2015 – Bad Asses on the Bayou – Bernie Pope – Feature Film
2015 – Andròn: The Black Labyrinth – Feature Film
2014 – Toxin – Dr. Locke – Feature Film
2014 – Tokarev – Detective St. John – Feature Film
2014 – The Ninja Immovable Heart – Matthew Reynolds – Feature Film
2014 – Supremacy – Mr. Walker – Feature Film
2014 – Sights of Death – Sponge – Feature Film
2014 – Bird People – Darius – Feature Film
2014 – Day of the Mummy – Carl – Feature Film
2014 – Beyond the Lights – Feature Film
2014 – Bad Asses – Bernie Pope – Feature Film
2013 – Tula: The Revolt – Shinishi – Feature Film
2013 – The Bouquet – Reverend John – Feature Film
2013 – Space Warriors – Commander – Feature Film
2013 – Extraction – Harding – TV Movie
2013 – Chasing Shakespeare – William Ward – Feature Film
2012 – Touch – Arthur Teller – TV Series
2012 – The Children’s Republic – Dubem – Feature Film
2012 – Sins of the Father – Father Leonard – Feature Film
2012 – LUV – Feature Film
2011 – The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975 – Feature Film
2011 – Son of Morning – Gabriel Peters – Feature Film
2011 – Donovan’s Echo – Donovan Matheson – Feature Film
2011 – Age of the Dragons – Ahab – Feature Film
2010 – Five Minarets in New York – Marcus – Feature Film
2010 – Legendary – Harry Newman – Feature Film
2010 – I’m Still Here – Himself – Feature Film
2010 – I Want to Be a Soldier – School Director – Feature Film
2010 – Highland Park – Ed – Feature Film
2010 – For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots – Himself – TV Movie
2010 – Death at a Funeral – Feature Film
2010 – Alpha and Omega – Winston (voice) – Feature Film
2009 – The People Speak – Himself – Feature Film
2009 – The Harimaya Bridge – Joseph Holder – Feature Film
2009 – Night Train – Miles – Feature Film
2009 – Down for Life – Bay Shannon – Feature Film
2009 – 2012 – President Thomas Wilson – Feature Film
2008 – The Garden – Himself – Feature Film
2008 – Be Kind Rewind – Mr. Fletcher – Feature Film
2008 – Blindness – The Voice (narrator) – Feature Film
2008 – Horton Hears a Who! – Walter Tortoise (voice) – Feature Film
2008 – Nothing But the Truth – John Malcolm – Feature Film
2007 – Shooter – Isaac Johnson – Feature Film
2007 – Honeydripper – Tyrone Purvis – Feature Film
2007 – The Game Plan – George – Feature Film
2006 – Dreamgirls – Marty Madison – Feature Film
2006 – Bamako – Cowboy – Feature Film
2005 – Manderlay – Wilhelm – Feature Film
2005 – Gone Missing – Jake Neeley – Feature Film
2004 – Saw – Detective David Tapp – Feature Film
2003 – The Law and Mr. Lee – Henry Lee – TV Movie
2003 – Good Fences – Tom Spader – TV Movie
2001 – The Royal Tenenbaums – Henry Sherman – Feature Film
2000 – Boesman and Lena – Boesman – Feature Film
1998 – Beloved – Paul D. Garner – Feature Film
1998 – The Prince of Egypt – Jethro (voice) – Feature Film
1998 – Antz – Barbatus (voice) – Feature Film
1998 – Lethal Weapon 4 – Roger Murtaugh – Feature Film
1997 – The Rainmaker – Judge Tyrone Kipler – Feature Film
1997 – Gone Fishin’ – Gus Green – Feature Film
1995 – Operation Dumbo Drop – Captain Sam Cahill – Feature Film
1994 – Angels in the Outfield – George Knox – Feature Film
1993 – The Saint of Fort Washington – Jerry – Feature Film
1993 – Bopha! – Micah Mangena – Feature Film
1992 – Lethal Weapon 3 – Roger Murtaugh – Feature Film
1991 – Grand Canyon – Simon – Feature Film
1991 – Pure Luck – Raymond Campanella – Feature Film
1990 – To Sleep with Anger – Harry – Feature Film
1990 – Predator 2 – Lieutenant Mike Harrigan – Feature Film
1989 – Lonesome Dove – Joshua Deets – TV Series
1989 – Lethal Weapon 2 – Roger Murtaugh – Feature Film
1988 – Bat*21 – Captain Bartholomew Clark – Feature Film
1987 – Lethal Weapon – Roger Murtaugh – Feature Film
1985 – Witness – James McFee – Feature Film
1985 – Silverado – Malachi Johnson – Feature Film
1984 – Places in the Heart – Moze – Feature Film
1984 – The Iceman – Loomis – Feature Film
1981 – Hill Street Blues – Jesse John Hudson – TV Series
1981 – Chu Chu and the Philly Flash – Morgan – Feature Film

Source: Biyografiler.com