Michael J. Fox is sharing why he decided to return to acting after stepping away from the spotlight. The 65-year-old actor, who has been living with Parkinson’s disease for over three decades, says getting back in front of the camera has given him a new sense of purpose.
Fox recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about his comeback and confirmed he will return for a fourth season of the Apple TV+ series Shrinking. The news comes after he earned an Emmy nomination for his guest appearance in the show’s third season.
Doctors told Fox back in 1991 that he had roughly 10 more years to act before Parkinson’s would make performing too difficult. He has now surpassed that deadline by more than 25 years.
“It’s really prolonged my life and made my life interesting in a way that I didn’t think it would be to this point,” Fox said about returning to acting.
Why Michael J. Fox Decided to Come Back to Acting
Fox stepped away from acting during the COVID-19 pandemic. He found it increasingly hard to rely on his speech from day to day. The break lasted six years before he made a phone call that changed everything.
He reached out to his longtime friend Bill Lawrence, the creator of Shrinking and Spin City. The two had worked together in the late 1990s, and Fox wanted to get back into the game.
Fox made it clear that he has not officially retired from acting. He explained his approach to stepping away from the craft.
“I’m not retired from acting, but if I didn’t act again, it would be for a very good reason. I let Parkinson’s make decisions for me,” Fox said.
The actor views acting as central to his well-being rather than something the disease has taken away from him. He is now preparing to travel to California to begin shooting more episodes of Shrinking.
Emmy Nomination for Shrinking Performance
Fox received an Emmy nomination for his guest arc in season three of Shrinking. This marks his first Emmy nomination in 10 years. The nomination comes in the category of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
His performance in Shrinking represents his 18th career Emmy nomination. The recognition highlights his successful return to acting after a long hiatus.
Playing Gerry on Shrinking
In Shrinking, Fox plays a character named Gerry, a patient living with Parkinson’s disease. The role marks the first time he has played a character who interacts with another person living with the same condition.
Harrison Ford plays Dr. Paul Rhoades, a therapist who also has Parkinson’s in the series. The two actors share meaningful scenes together, with Gerry opening up about the challenges of living with the disease.
Fox described working with Ford as a positive experience. Despite Ford’s reputation for being serious and reserved, Fox found him to be warm and welcoming.
“He was happy that I was sharing my experience with him as a character and helping him do what he needed to do,” Fox said of Ford. “He was so loving. I didn’t know what to expect with Harrison because he’s famously a stoic, curmudgeonly guy — and he’s really a sweetheart. He was so affectionate to me and so welcoming to me.”
The show’s creator, Bill Lawrence, explained that Paul’s journey with Parkinson’s was inspired by Fox’s real-life experience. This connection adds depth and authenticity to the series.
Michael J. Fox Foundation and Parkinson’s Research
Beyond acting, Fox has dedicated much of his life to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. He founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000. The organization has become one of the most successful disease-focused nonprofits of the century.
The foundation has funded more than $3 billion in Parkinson’s research. It is aiming to hit $700 million in new commitments this year, a sum that nearly triples what the US government put toward Parkinson’s research in 2025.
Fox believes researchers will find a cure within his lifetime. The foundation’s co-founder and CEO, Deborah W. Brooks, noted the significant progress made since they started.
“When we started, almost nothing had made it all the way into human testing of any kind. Today, there are 180-ish active Parkinson’s drug programs in human testing,” Brooks said.
The foundation continues accelerating research and advancing promising therapies. Fox’s work has made him a symbol of hope for people and families living with Parkinson’s worldwide.
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Going Public With His Diagnosis
Fox was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s in 1991 at age 29. He kept the diagnosis private for seven years while starring in Spin City. During that time, he gave up alcohol, which he had previously used to cope with the condition.
He went public with his diagnosis in 1998 with the support of his wife, Tracy Pollan. Fox has been open about how the decision affected his family.
“It was hell on Tracy, it was really hard on her — and it still is because it’s always changing,” Fox recalled of his wife.
He explained his reasoning for being completely open about his condition.
“But I said to her, ‘I have to go all the way here. No half measures.’ I needed to normalize it and just be that all the time. I said, ‘I have to not hide this. F*ck vanity.’”
Fox testified before the US Senate without taking his medication to show lawmakers the physical effects of Parkinson’s disease. This act of transparency helped raise awareness and support for research funding.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation continues to be at the forefront of Parkinson’s research. The organization recently announced the Parkinson’s Precision Medicine Initiative, reflecting a major shift in how the disease is understood and studied.
Fox’s return to acting serves as proof that people living with Parkinson’s can pursue their passions at any stage of the disease. His ongoing work both on screen and through his foundation continues to inspire the Parkinson’s community globally.
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