Courtney B. Vance had a very personal reason for being at the new ALS documentary Gleason last night in downtown L.A.
His mom has been living with the ALS for more than three years.
"It's a devastating disease," the Emmy nominated actor told E! News' Carissa Culiner. "Now all she can do is blink her eyes. One blink for yes, two blinks for no."
Vance's mother has 24-hour nursing assistance. "My mother needs someone to turn her, to wipe her mouth...[but] her mind is all still there," he said.
His heart goes out those who can't provide the same services for their loved ones. "I can't imagine people whose finances don't allow them to be able to take care of them...and then they're forced to put them potentially in a nursing situation where they won't get the care that they need," The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story actor said.
Gleason, directed by Clay Tweel, is a documentary about former NFL star Steve Gleason's battle with ALS. The film is in theaters on July 29.
Also at the premiere of the Amazon Studios and Open Road doc were Courteney Cox, Nick Cannon, Jessica Simpson and husband Eric Johnson, Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Dave Annable, Odette Yustman and celebrity power publicist Nanci Ryder, who went public almost two years ago with her ALS diagnosis in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
If you or someone you know needs more information about ALS, click here for the ALS Association.