Mel Gibson has shared the story behind how Danny Glover came to star alongside him in Lethal Weapon, recalling a friendship that spans decades and praising the actor’s talent and versatility both on and off screen.
Desire to Work Together
Speaking to People in this week’s issue, the 70-year-old actor reflected on his longtime pal, 79, who recently revealed he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Gibson first noticed Glover while watching the 1985 film Witness.
He said, “I watched that performance and said, ‘This guy is great.'”
The Braveheart star expressed his desire to work with Glover when they met at the Venice Film Festival years later.
Gibson recalled, “And I went up to him, and he said, ‘You!’ And I said, ‘You! We got to work together.’”
When director Richard Donner began casting the original Lethal Weapon film, he initially considered seasoned actors such as Brian Dennehy for the role of Roger Murtaugh. Gibson suggested Glover instead.
The Mad Max actor recalled, “Brian is great. And then Donner said, ‘How about we cast a Black actor?’ And I said, ‘Danny Glover.’ And he’s like, ‘Who’s that?’”
Glover Joining Lethal Weapon
Glover eventually joined the project, perfectly embodying the bumbling, slightly “a beat behind” cop that became a defining character in the franchise, which spanned four movies from 1987 to 1998.
Gibson described one of his favorite moments from the film, highlighting Glover’s impeccable comedic timing.
He said, “Comedian Jack Benny used to just walk out on stage and look at people and people would start laughing. And Danny had that kind of stunned look. There’s a scene in the first Lethal Weapon, he puts his hand up on his face and he does a Jack Benny. I laughed my ass off.”
The film took Glover’s career to new heights and helped open doors for Black actors in Hollywood.
Gibson said, “I think he commits fully to what he’s doing and that’s a rare quality in actors. He doesn’t hold back. I wish I could do it as well as that. That guy would’ve been a shining star in any era, he’s got the goods.”
Glover’s Other Passions
Off-screen, Gibson revealed Glover’s wide-ranging interests, including a background in football and a desire to learn flamenco dancing.
The star recalled, “He talked to me about it. He said, ‘Man, it’s cool. I want to do it.’ And he loved it, the passion in it. That made me laugh.”
Gibson also praised Glover’s warmth and kindness in real life.
He said of his co-star, “He’s a sweetheart. He’s more of a huggier guy these days. It’s always good to see him.”