Harrison Ford and Michael J. Fox appear together in "Shrinking." Photo courtesy of Apple TV.
Michael J. Fox has returned to our TV screens! Michael’s first appearance in a three-episode arc of the award-winning Apple TV series, Shrinking, aired on January 28 during the show’s season three premiere. This marks Michael’s first live-action role since retiring in 2020 — both a personal achievement for him and an inspirational moment for the Parkinson’s community worldwide.
Shrinking is a comedy-drama starring Harrison Ford who plays a therapist grappling with his own vulnerability while living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Michael J. Fox guest stars opposite Ford as Gerry, a client also navigating life with PD. They are joined by an impressive ensemble cast that includes Ted McGinley, who attended the Foundation’s “Funny Thing” gala in New York City last year, as well as Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller, Jason Segel and Jessica Williams. Much like in real life, Michael brings a new perspective on his lived experience with Parkinson’s to the show, sharing messages of optimism with the characters around him.
Since publicly sharing his diagnosis in 1998, Michael has been relentless in his fight to find a cure — becoming a symbol of hope for so many people and families living with Parkinson’s today. Michael’s return to acting proves that people living with PD can pursue their passions at any stage of the disease — a diagnosis does not define your life or ability to inspire others to take action.
In a Parkinson’s News Today article celebrating Michael’s return to acting, Co-Founder and CEO of The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Debi Brooks said:
“Michael brings wisdom, heart, and grit to everything he does — both on and off screen. Seeing him in action is especially meaningful, inspiring the entire Parkinson’s community and underscoring the important role every individual plays in driving research forward. With this opportunity, we look forward to amplifying the national conversation around living with Parkinson’s and connecting more people to our urgent mission of finding a cure.”
Stay tuned to our channels for more on Shrinking, and the many ways you can help us bring an end to Parkinson’s for good.