How Michael J. Fox Inspired Shrinking’s Portrayal of Parkinson’s
Shrink co-creator Bill Lawrence revealed Michael J Fox had a hand in shaping the show’s portrayal of Parkinson’s disease.
“It’s cool to write about things that matter to you right now,” Lawrence, 56, said People in an interview published on Saturday, December 28. “And Michael J. Fox is my first mentor. So we wanted to represent it hopefully in an inspiring way and not a sad or tragic way.
Fox, 63, starred Spider citythe first show Lawrence co-created, from 1996 to 2002. The actor revealed his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis while the series was airing in 1998.
For ShrinkLawrence said he became “obsessed with showing the portrait of living with it” in the upcoming season 3 of the series.
The importance of silence. As Michael J. Fox reflects on his wildly successful career and his 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, the Back to the Future star finds crucial moments of quiet contemplation in his new documentary Still. The Apple TV+ film, which premiered on the streaming service on Friday, May 12, features candid interviews […]
“I found the first mentor in my life and career, Michael J. Fox, so inspiring in the way he handled it and continues to work harder than anyone else,” he said. “And we want to convey that spirit a little bit if we can in the show.”
Lawrence shared that both he and co-creator Brett Goldstein have a “deep history” with Parkinson’s, as both their fathers battle the disease. Lawrence noted that “in his real life he has generally attacked difficult situations with humor.”
“It takes a while as a writer to realize what your voice is – I think mine is inherently hopeful and optimistic,” he said. “I absorb the inspiring people around me and steal as much as I can from them.”
Shrink stars Jason Segel as Jimmy Laird, a therapist grieving after the death of his wife. Struggling to make progress, he throws himself into his job – where he works with senior therapist Dr. Paul Rhodes (Harrison Ford), who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
For his part, Ford told the outlet earlier this month that he takes his storyline — and the responsibility that comes with it — “deadly f—ing seriously.”
“There are people who take these kinds of experiences with grace, courage and a little bit of wisdom,” Ford, 82, said in a Dec. 12 interview. “I just want to say that this is a person who is extremely well equipped to communicate what it’s like, and that’s something that I think is worth sharing with our audience.”
Ford noted that he feels like he’s “telling a story,” adding, “The story I’m telling is a story I know, and so I can just feel it.”
Shrink season 2 is now streaming on AppleTV+.
