Michael J. Fox is known for a number of acting roles but has reduced his work since opening up about his Parkinson’s diagnosis years ago. However, he is set to make a return with an onscreen role. This comes out after the actor has also been involved with a few other projects.
Michael J. Fox Also Founded His Namesake Foundation In 2000
The Canadian-born Fox started his career as a child actor in the 1970s, moving to Los Angeles in 1979. Many know him for playing Alex P. Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties and Marty McFly in the Back to the Future films. Fox is also known for appearing in films like Teen Wolf, Doc Hollywood, and the Stuart Little films, as well as the ABC sitcom Spin City.
In 1998, Fox revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease back in 1991. He has since founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to help fund research.
Since coming forward about his diagnosis, Fox has reduced his acting roles. As noted by Entertainment Weekly, it was announced back in May that he would appear in an undisclosed guest-star capacity on the Apple TV dramedy, Shrinking. On the show, Jason Segel plays Jimmy Laird, a therapist dealing with the fallout of his wife’s death. He starts to break ethical barriers by sharing what he really thinks with patients.
Fox Has Also Recently Lent His Voice To A Few Projects, Including Zootopia 2
Details on Fox’s role on the show have been kept under wraps. However, footage has shown that his character is dealing with Parkinson’s disease like Fox himself.
Fox appears in a scene with Harrison Ford, who plays Dr. Paul Rhoades. His character is a therapist who also suffers from Parkinson’s. The two sit in a doctor’s office waiting room and make light of their shared circumstances.
As previously reported, Fox actually has a connection with the series. Showrunner Bill Lawrence previously confirmed with People that he was the inspiration for Ford’s character.
This also marks Fox’s first live-action onscreen acting appearance since around 2020. Back in 2024, Fox explained his retirement was complicated.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight in 2024, “If someone offers me a part and I do it and I have a good time, great. I would do acting if something came up that I could put my realities into it, my challenges, if I could figure it out.”
While Fox has limited his onscreen roles, he has been involved with a few voice-acting roles in recent years. Recently, he voiced “Michael J. the Fox” in Disney’s animated Zootopia 2. He also voiced a role in the 2021 animated short, Back Home Again. He also appeared as the subject of the 2023 documentary, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.
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John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
