Michael J. Fox didn’t mince words when he called Bill Lawrence.
After binge-watching “Shrinking,” the Apple TV+ comedy featuring Harrison Ford as a therapist navigating life with Parkinson’s disease, Fox had one burning question for his former “Spin City” boss.
“Bill, why the f— am I not on the show?” Fox asked, delivering the line with his signature comedic timing.
That phone call, made roughly a year ago, sparked a collaboration that brings Fox back to television in Season 3 of “Shrinking,” premiering Wednesday on Apple TV+.
From Retirement to Reunion
Fox’s return marks a significant moment in his journey with Parkinson’s disease, diagnosed when he was just 29 years old. In his 2020 book “No Time Like the Future,” Fox had announced what many considered his final retirement from acting, citing difficulty memorizing lines and managing symptoms on set.
The decision came after struggling through legal dramas like “The Good Fight,” where he found himself unable to master complex dialogue. Fox recalls a moment of clarity in front of a mirror, thinking simply: “I can’t do this anymore.”
But watching “Shrinking” changed everything. The depth of character development and authentic portrayal of living with Parkinson’s resonated deeply with Fox.
It’s so human and it was accessible for me. I know what that is.
Playing a Character, Not Himself
In Season 3, Fox plays Gerry, a fellow Parkinson’s patient who encounters Ford’s character Paul in a doctor’s waiting room. Despite the obvious opportunity for Fox to essentially play himself, he insisted on creating an actual character.
Lawrence praised this choice as “so much cooler for a writing team.”
The storyline carries personal significance for the entire creative team. Brett Goldstein, who co-created “Shrinking” with Lawrence, has a father with Parkinson’s. Lawrence’s grandfather had the disease, and his father currently lives with Lewy bodies dementia with Parkinson’s.
Once you put Mike on it, it has kind of a new level of authenticity.
Lawrence explained how Fox’s involvement elevated the show’s ability to portray the disease with hopefulness rather than despair.
Working With Harrison Ford
Fox’s scenes opposite Harrison Ford became unexpectedly moving for everyone involved. Despite sharing mutual connections through directors like Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg, Fox wasn’t sure what to expect from the notoriously private star.
The thing with Harrison is he just was so lovely. I didn’t know what to expect. But I didn’t know he’d be as cool as he was and sweet to me. He was tender.
Ford’s commitment to authenticity impressed both Fox and Lawrence. The actor studies videos sent by medical advisors, reviews his takes to ensure accurate movement, and obsesses over portraying Parkinson’s symptoms correctly.
Fox was struck by Ford’s performance depth, saying simply: “No wonder this guy’s one of the biggest stars in the world.”
“F— Parkinson’s”: Finding Empowerment
The encounter between Paul and Gerry produces the season’s rallying cry: “F— Parkinson’s.” This defiant slogan captures what Lawrence describes as the show’s commitment to hopefulness over maudlin sentimentality.
Fox has developed his own arsenal of empowering mantras over the years, though he jokes that he drives his kids crazy with constant life lessons. His favorite?
Let’s deal with what is.
This philosophy reflects Fox’s approach to living with a progressive neurological disease. Rather than dwelling on past abilities or future uncertainties, he focuses on what’s next on the agenda.
Building Community Through Shared Experience
Gerry returns later in Season 3 to connect with Paul about their shared experiences. This recurring relationship highlights something crucial: the irreplaceable value of community among those living with the same condition.
As Lawrence points out, empathy has limits. Even those closest to someone with Parkinson’s can’t truly know what it’s like to live with the disease daily.
The only person that really gets it is somebody else that lives with it.
Fox emphasized gaining confidence and purpose from feeling part of this community, particularly through his foundation work. Since founding the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000, he’s remained deeply involved in efforts to find treatments and ultimately cure the disease.
Redefining Success and Identity
When Fox left “Spin City” after four seasons, his primary focus shifted to spending time with his children—now ages 24, 30 (twins), and 37. That period away from Hollywood served its purpose.
I spent that time with them and they grew up, and I was with them all those years.
Now 64 with an empty nest, Fox feels ready to dip his toe back into acting—but on his own terms. This isn’t a campaign to reestablish his career; it’s about finding joy in the craft itself.
Fox discovered that Parkinson’s, rather than simply truncating his career, made it “more dynamic in other aspects and more laden with possibility.” He found a new niche playing characters with various afflictions, translating his Parkinsonian symptoms into cancer on “Boston Legal” and other conditions on shows like “The Good Wife.”
Facing Reality Without Denial
Fox doesn’t sugarcoat the difficult moments. He talks openly about sliding down walls, ending up on the floor unable to get up, thinking about the old “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” commercials.
These struggles are real. But his approach is equally straightforward.
You find another version of yourself that you weren’t looking for, one you wouldn’t know to go looking for. It just lands in your doorstep and you either try to get around or you go through it. I just try to go through it.
By refusing to block out or deny his experiences with Parkinson’s, Fox maintains access to authentic emotions and understanding. This honesty allows him to bring something genuine to his performance—something that can enlighten viewers and progress storytelling in meaningful ways.
Still Just an Actor at Heart
Despite his advocacy work, foundation leadership, and status as an inspiration to millions living with Parkinson’s, Fox maintains a refreshingly simple self-perception.
At the core of it, I’m still just an actor. I’m the happiest sitting on a set with Harrison Ford, making people laugh.
This return to “Shrinking” represents more than just another acting credit. It demonstrates how creative work can provide purpose, connection, and joy—regardless of physical limitations or life circumstances.
For Fox, stepping back into the light means stepping back onto set, bringing his unique perspective and hard-won wisdom to stories that matter. And if that work also happens to bring authenticity and hope to millions watching at home? That’s just part of dealing with what is.