It is hard to believe it’s been four decades since a relatively unknown stand-up comic and a San Francisco stage actor walked onto a set in North Carolina and changed American cinema forever. When we talk about Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg, the mind immediately goes to the heavy, gut-wrenching scenes of The Color Purple. You know the ones. The "Mister" and Celie dynamic was so toxic, so visceral, that it almost feels weird to realize the two actors are actually incredibly close friends in real life.
They aren't just former co-stars. Honestly, they’re more like family at this point.
While the world recently obsessed over the 2023 musical remake—and Whoopi’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo as the midwife—there’s a much deeper story between these two icons that rarely gets the spotlight. They’ve navigated Hollywood’s shifting tides, shared the screen in forgotten gems, and stood shoulder-to-shoulder in political foxholes for years.
Beyond the "Mister" and Celie Shadow
Most people think their professional relationship started and ended with Steven Spielberg. Not even close.
Sure, The Color Purple (1985) was the big bang. It earned Whoopi a Golden Globe and an Oscar nod, and it proved Danny could play a villain so effectively that people actually hated him on the street for a while. But their chemistry was too good to leave in the 1900s South.
Fast forward to 2003. They reunited for a Showtime film called Good Fences. If you haven't seen it, find it. It’s a satirical, dark look at a Black family moving into an upscale, white Connecticut neighborhood in the 70s. Danny plays an overworked attorney, and Whoopi plays his wife, Mabel. It’s the polar opposite of their first outing. Instead of the "Mister" dominance, you see two seasoned pros playing off each other’s comedic and dramatic timing with a familiarity that only comes from years of knowing someone's rhythm.
💡 You might also like: Why Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Actors Still Define the Modern Spy Thriller
Interestingly, they’ve even popped up in the same circles for projects like Our Friend, Martin and even a Michael Jackson music video (Liberian Girl, remember that one?).
The Activism Connection Nobody Talks About
You can’t talk about Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg without talking about the picket lines. They are both "loud" in the best way possible.
Danny has always been the more radical of the two. We're talking about a man who was part of the longest student strike in U.S. history at San Francisco State and has been arrested more than a few times for protesting everything from South African apartheid to the crisis in Darfur. Whoopi, while perhaps more "mainstream" because of her seat on The View, has a similar backbone.
They both served as Goodwill Ambassadors for the United Nations. Think about that for a second. While most of Hollywood was busy chasing the next blockbuster, these two were using their The Color Purple fame to talk about global poverty and human rights.
- Danny: Focused heavily on labor unions and African development.
- Whoopi: Leaned into children's advocacy and HIV/AIDS awareness.
They basically used their careers as a Trojan horse to get into rooms where they could demand change. It’s a shared DNA of social responsibility that makes their friendship more than just "celebrity pals."
📖 Related: The Entire History of You: What Most People Get Wrong About the Grain
The 2025/2026 Perspective: Why They Still Matter
In early 2025, during the awards season, there was a quiet but moving moment when Whoopi and Oprah Winfrey reunited to honor Quincy Jones. While Danny wasn't center stage for that specific televised bit, the industry chatter was all about the legacy of that 1985 cast.
Why do we still care about Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg today? Because they represent a "pre-algorithm" era of stardom. They didn't have TikTok followers or viral PR stunts. They had craft.
There’s a nuance to their work that younger audiences are just now discovering as The Color Purple remains a staple on streaming platforms like Max. People are realizing that Danny Glover isn't just "too old for this s***" (the Lethal Weapon line that will follow him forever) and Whoopi isn't just the moderator of a talk show. They are pillars.
Common Misconceptions
People often ask if they ever dated.
Nope.
👉 See also: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
They are the ultimate "work spouses" who transitioned into a lifelong platonic partnership. There was even a point where Danny’s son, Zachary Simmons Glover, acted alongside them in Good Fences. That’s how deep the trust goes. You don’t bring your kids onto a set with someone you don't trust implicitly.
Another weird myth is that they had a falling out during the filming of their first movie because the roles were so abusive. Actually, the opposite happened. To get through those harrowing scenes where "Mister" was being a monster to Celie, they had to check in with each other constantly. That kind of shared trauma—even the staged kind—creates a bond that's hard to break.
How to Support Their Legacy Today
If you want to dive deeper than just the headlines, here is how you actually engage with their work:
- Watch "Good Fences" (2003): It’s the best way to see them as a modern couple and appreciate their range outside of the "historical drama" box.
- Look into the TransAfrica Forum: This is one of the organizations Danny has been deeply involved with. Understanding his activism gives you a much better perspective on the roles he chooses.
- Revisit Whoopi’s Early Stand-up: Before she was Celie, she was a character actor on stage. Her "Fontaine" sketches show the DNA of the performance that eventually caught Spielberg's eye.
The story of Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg isn't over. As of 2026, they both remain active in the industry—not by chasing every script, but by choosing projects that actually say something. They’ve outlasted the critics, the box office trends, and the era of the "disposable" celebrity.
Next time you see a clip of Celie shaving Mister’s face with that straight razor, remember that the two people in that frame ended up becoming two of the most important voices in American culture.
To truly appreciate their impact, look for the "Color Purple" 40th-anniversary retrospective materials coming out this year. Many of these features include rare behind-the-scenes footage of Danny and Whoopi discussing their craft during the 80s, offering a glimpse into how they built such an enduring professional foundation. Also, keep an eye on independent film festival circuits, as Glover continues to produce socially conscious cinema that aligns with the values he and Goldberg have championed for decades.