Francis Ford Coppola is sharing some words of support for an old friend.
The 87-year-old director took to social media on July 8 to express his solidarity with legendary actor Danny Glover, who told TODAY in an exclusive interview that he has been living with Alzheimerβs disease for multiple years.
Coppola reflected on how the actor, who worked with the director on his 1997 film βThe Rainmaker,β was a stand up guy.
Glover was βa most wonderful cast member: considerate of the others, kind and supportive, always available to help out, run lines with the others even when not scheduled,β Coppola wrote on social media. βHe was a terrific cast member and I became so fond of him and of course am disturbed that he is suffering now.β
Coppola added: βDanny may have difficulty remembering, but those who know and love him canβt forget.β
In the legal drama film, which was also written by Coppola, Glover played the empathetic Judge Tyrone Kipler. While Glover was uncredited in the movie, he still managed to draw praise for his portrayal, including a 1998 NAACP Image Award nomination for best supporting actor in a motion picture.
Coppolaβs moving message elicited a deluge of responses from fans, including other actors who gushed over their experiences working with Glover.
βHe is the greatest guy to work with,β said Cary Elwes, who appeared alongside the iconic actor in 2004βs βSaw.β βSo sad that he is going through this πβ
Filmmaker Deon Taylor commented on the post, calling on fans to give Glover βall the flowers he deserves.β
βHis willingness to fight for his people and stand when others were afraid makes him more impactful than words can explain!β Taylor wrote.
While Glover has been living with the neurodegenerative disease for years, he told TODAY that he felt it was time to go public with the news.
βIβm sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing,β Glover said.
The four-time Emmy winning actor explained that since his diagnosis, his movements, speech and memories have slowed. Heβs continued to remain active, however, attending events and interacting with community members in San Francisco, where he lives. His daughter Mandisa underscored in the interview that itβs important for the actor to maintain βcontrol of his own narrative, of his own life story.β
βThe time is now,β she said. βWhat better time but now for him to speak for himself?β