Michael J. Fox has opened up about his return to acting and having to overcome his Parkinson’s Disease affecting his ability to memorize lines.
The 65-year-old actor – who was diagnosed at the age of 29 with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991 – revealed that he un-retired from acting sooner than expected because his new character in Shrinking allowed him to ‘show up on set’ as himself.
Fox first retired in 2000, two years after publicly sharing his diagnosis. He did make several cameos on television series Scrubs and The Good Wife before being forced to take a break from acting again in 2020.
The talented actor explained his reasoning behind the decision to People as he said: ‘a new variable emerged: my ability to memorize lines.
‘There’s a time for everything, and the time for 12-hour workdays was behind me.’
Fox joined Harrison Ford-led series Shrinking for season 3 earlier this year.
Michael J. Fox revealed that he un-retired from acting sooner than expected because his new character in Shrinking allowed him to ‘show up on set’ as himself
The 65-year-old actor (pictured in LA in July) was diagnosed at the age of 29 with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991
The Apple TV series was created by Fox’s pal Bill Lawrence as he said he enjoyed having the freedom to ‘use how I feel on any given day and channel it into the scene.’
On the series he portrays the character Gerry as he becomes friends with Ford’s character Dr. Paul Rhoades who is also navigating a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Fox was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category as the late Rob Reiner was announced as the winner over the weekend.
Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at age 29 while filming Doc Hollywood, after experiencing a sore shoulder.
The actor went public with his diagnosis in 1998.
Fox previously worked with Shrinking’s co-creator Lawrence on ABC’s Spin City. However, he left after season four in 2000 after his Parkinson’s symptoms worsened.
The dad-of-four also featured in a two-episode arc on Scrubs, another Lawrence-led series, where he played a genius doctor with severe OCD.
Fox has said the disease prompted him to largely retire from acting, devoting more time to spending time with his family and working for his foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which funds research and the search for a Parkinson’s disease cure
Shrinking was created by Fox’s pal Bill Lawrence as Fox said he enjoyed having the freedom to ‘use how I feel on any given day and channel it into the scene’ (he is seen with Harrison Ford)
Fox previously worked with Lawrence on ABC’s Spin City. However, he left after season four in 2000 after his Parkinson’s symptoms worsened (seen in 1999)
Fox first retired in 2000 three years after publicly sharing his diagnosis. He did make several cameos on television series Scrubs and The Good Wife (pictured) before being forced to take a break from acting again in 2020
Most famously, Fox starred as teenager Marty McFly in the science fiction movie Back to the Future in 1985 (pictured), as well as in the sequels Back to the Future Part II (in 1989) and Back to the Future III (in 1990)
He played Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties from 1982 until 1989.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that causes the impairment and death of nerve cells that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates body movements.
Without dopamine, patients have balance issues, tremors throughout the body, stiff limbs, and slow movement.
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, roughly 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease every year, and 10 to 20 percent are under age 50.
Experts are still unsure what causes Parkinson’s disease, though evidence suggests that genetic factors and environmental triggers like exposure to strong chemicals and pesticides could be to blame.
In younger patients, a family history of the disease may play a role, according to the Michael J Fox Foundation.
