Actor Andre Royo’s Story of Caregiving Through His Mom’s Alzheimer’s Journey

Acclaimed actor, director, and producer Andre Royo (The Wire, Empire, Hunter Gatherer), watched his mother, Andrea Royo, gradually lose her memories and independence to Alzheimer’s disease. As her caregiver, he experienced both the heartbreak of the disease and unexpected moments of connection, getting to know his mother in new ways as her condition progressed.

Now, Andre is sharing her story to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and the urgent need for research funding to better understand the root causes of Alzheimer’s, develop more effective treatments, and unlock a cure.

More than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and millions of family members and caregivers feel its impact every day. Through his personal story, Andre hopes to encourage families to learn about Alzheimer’s disease and their risk factors, seek support, and take proactive steps to protect their brain health. 

His hope? That future generations won’t have to endure the challenges his family faced. 

Andre’s mother, Andrea Royo, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2021. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Ms. Royo was an artist and dancer who trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City and was accepted to Juilliard. She loved music, especially salsa. She was married to Andre’s father, Louie Royo, for 64 years. After she and Mr. Royo moved to Las Vegas, Ms. Royo found purpose volunteering for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama’s campaign, which ultimately led to her being invited to the White House to meet the president. 

“She was really independent. She didn’t like sitting around. She liked to work,” Andre said. “To see someone like her lose her independence and not know who they are, it was wild.” 

Andre first noticed something was wrong when Ms. Royo struggled to remember the day of the week. Over time, he noticed her forgetting words and giving up reading, a pastime she had always loved. Initially, he assumed these were normal signs of aging. But as the disease progressed, Ms. Royo gradually lost the ability to feed herself and recognize faces. She became withdrawn and agitated, eventually requiring full-time care. She moved in with Andre, who became her primary caregiver. Ms. Royo died in December 2024 at age 79.

After noticing that Ms. Royo would often wake up angry, confused, or even scared, not knowing who she was, Andre and his girlfriend Christina decided to create a a magazine about her life, which they called “A is for Everything.” It includes photos of different moments throughout Ms. Royo’s life that brought her joy—her sisters; dancing; food that she liked; New York City—the place she always called home; photos of Ms. Royo during her modeling days; dancing with her husband; with her granddaughter and Andre’s best friend Gio, who was like a second son to her, and with President Obama when she was invited to the White House.

“The magazine not only brought her joy but sometimes brought back her memory,” Andre said. “I feel like it was something special and a tool that helped her a lot. And now, I have the magazine and I look at it, and it brings back memories for me of being a good son who tried to help his mom. The woman who battled—and tried to beat—Alzheimer’s disease.”

“Caring for my mom forever changed my understanding of love, sacrifice, and the true meaning of being a son. As I became more present and began quelling my own addiction, the intimate moments and stories we shared filled me with pride, love, and a deeper understanding of who she was as a woman. I came to know my mother not only as a parent but as a woman whose life was defined by resilience and selfless love.”