Michael J. Fox has opened up about his return to acting and having to overcome his Parkinson’s disease, which affects his ability to remember lines.
The 65-year-old actor – who was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at the age of 29 – revealed that he quit acting earlier 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 made several cameos in the television series Scrubs and The Good Wife before having to take another break from acting in 2020.
The talented actor explained his reasoning behind the decision People as he said, “A new variable emerged: my ability to remember lines.
“There’s a time for everything, and the days of twelve-hour workdays were behind me.”
Fox joined the Harrison Ford-led series Shrinking for Season 3 earlier this year.
Michael J. Fox revealed he quit acting earlier 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 with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at the age of 29.
The Apple TV series was created by Fox’s friend Bill Lawrence, because he said he liked having the freedom to ‘take how I’m feeling on a given day and channel that into the scene.’
In the series, he portrays the character Gerry as he befriends Ford’s character Dr. Paul Rhoades, who also has a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Fox was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category when the late Rob Reiner was announced as the winner this weekend.
Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at the age of 29 while filming Doc Hollywood, after suffering from a sore shoulder.
The actor made his diagnosis public in 1998.
Fox previously worked with Shrinking co-creator Lawrence on ABC’s Spin City. However, he left after season four in 2000 after his Parkinson’s symptoms worsened.
The father of four also appeared in a two-episode arc on Scrubs, another Lawrence-led series, playing a genius doctor with severe OCD.
Fox has said the disease has prompted him to largely retire, spend more time with his family and work for his foundation, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which funds research and the search for a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
Shrinking was created by Fox’s friend Bill Lawrence, when Fox said he liked having the freedom to “use how I’m feeling 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 made several cameos in the television series Scrubs and The Good Wife (pictured) before having to take another break from acting in 2020.
Most famously, Fox starred as teenager Marty McFly in the science fiction film 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).
Most famously, Fox starred as teenager Marty McFly in the science fiction film Back to the Future in 1985, 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 in Family Ties from 1982 to 1989.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that causes damage and death of nerve cells that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates body movements.
Without dopamine, patients have balance problems, tremors throughout the body, stiff limbs and slow movements.
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, approximately 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year, and 10 to 20 percent are under the age of 50.
Experts are still unsure what causes Parkinson’s disease, although there is evidence that genetic and environmental factors such as exposure to strong chemicals and pesticides may be the cause.
In younger patients, a family history of the disease may play a role, according to the Michael J Fox Foundation.
