A Vietnam Vet Advocates for Wounded Warriors in ‘The Drummer’

A Vietnam Vet Advocates for Wounded Warriors in ‘The Drummer’

Danny Glover plays Vietnam War veteran Mark Walker in “The Drummer,” a new movie set for a digital release on Nov. 9, just in time for Veterans Day.

Glover’s character is Walker, who served in Vietnam before becoming a lawyer and political advocate for soldiers suffering from mental-health issues after their Army service. When the movie opens, he’s working at The Drummer, an independent coffee shop that promotes its anti-war leanings. Over the course of the film, Glover talks with veterans who share their physical and mental struggles with him.

Glover’s greatest success came as the star of four “Lethal Weapon” movies. When director (and Navy veteran) Richard Donner died this week at age 91, Glover paid tribute in a statement to Variety. ““My heart is broken,” he said. “Working with Dick Donner, Mel Gibson and the Lethal Weapon Team was one of the proudest moments of my career. I will forever be grateful to him for that. Dick genuinely cared about me, my life and my family. We were friends and loved each other far beyond collaborating for the screen and the success that the Lethal Weapon franchise brought us. I will so greatly miss him.”

Related: 8 Fan Favorite Movies and Shows Made by Navy Veteran Richard Donner

“The Drummer” also stars Sam Underwood (Adam Carrington on the CW’s “Dynasty” remake), Frankie J. Alvarez (“Looking”), Camila Perez (“Gotham”), Lillias White (“The Get Down”), Daniel K. Isaac (“Billions”) and Evan Hall (“Orange Is the New Black”). The film was co-written and directed by Eric Werthman.

“My brother was a Vietnam vet,’’ Glover said in a news release. “Given the recent announcement that there are even more veteran suicides than U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq makes the film “The Drummer” more timely than ever.”

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