For more than four decades, Michael J. Fox has remained one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars, best known for Back to the Future, Family Ties, and Spin City. But beyond acting, much of his adult life has been shaped by Parkinson’s disease and his work advocating for research and awareness.
Fox was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s in 1991 at just 29 years old after noticing a tremor in his pinky while filming Doc Hollywood. He kept the diagnosis private until 1998 and continued working in films and television despite the condition.
In 2000, Fox left Spin City as the physical demands of full-time television became increasingly difficult. That same year, he founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which has since become a major organization supporting research and the development of better treatments. He continued taking selected acting roles in shows including Scrubs, Boston Legal, The Good Wife, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
By 2020, Parkinson’s had made memorizing lines, speaking consistently, and performing more challenging, leading Fox to step away from acting. However, he never completely ruled out returning if the right opportunity came along.
That opportunity arrived with Apple TV’s Shrinking. In 2026, Fox returned to live-action television as Gerry, a character living with Parkinson’s who interacts with Harrison Ford’s Dr. Paul Rhoades, who also has the disease. His first appearance aired January 28, 2026, marking his first scripted live-action role since stepping away in 2020.