Michael J. Fox Inspired How Parkinson's Is Depicted on Shrinking, Says Creator: 'Not Sad or Tragic Way' (Exclusive)

Bill Lawrence found inspiration for Shrinkage by Michael J. Fox and his journey with Parkinson’s disease.

The Shrinkage co-creator revealed to PEOPLE that Fox’s public diagnosis of Parkinson’s helped shape Paul Harrison Ford’s character on the show. In the AppleTV+ show, Ford plays a therapist managing his Parkinson’s diagnosis while continuing to practice mental health therapy.

At “Večera s.” on December 12 Shrinkage at the PaleyLive event,” Lawrence, 55, told PEOPLE that both he and co-creator Brett Goldstein have a “deep history” with the disease, noting that both of their fathers have Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s disease is “a brain disorder that causes involuntary or uncontrolled movements, such as tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination,” according to the National Institute on Aging.

“It’s great now to write about things you care about,” he said. “And Michael J. Fox is my first mentor. So we wanted to portray it in a hopefully inspiring way rather than a sad or tragic way.”

Fox, 63, starred in the first series Lawrence created: Spin City. During the show’s six seasons from 1996 to 2002, Fox publicly disclosed his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 1998.

Bill Lawrence on December 12, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Michael J. Fox on Keeping a Dark Sense of Humor Amid Parkinson’s Disease: ‘I Have to Keep It Intact’ (Exclusive)

Lawrence explained that for the upcoming third season, he became “obsessed with portraying a portrait of living with it.”

“I found the first mentor in my life and career, Michael J. Fox, to be so inspiring with the way he took it in stride and continues to do more than anyone I know,” he said. “And we want to carry that spirit if we can into the show.”

Lawrence admitted that he “generally attacked difficult situations with comedy in his real life”, noting: “It takes you a while as a writer to figure out what your voice is – I think mine is naturally hopeful and optimistic.”

“I pull in inspirational people around me and steal from them as much as I can,” he added, before crediting Fox as the first collaborator he pulled from.

Michael J. Fox on November 16, 2024 in New York.

Noam Galai/Getty

Lawrence also noted that the audience reaction to the show’s upbeat tone “means everything [him] that people find it emotionally affecting and uplifting.”

Shrinkage stars Jason Segel as single father Jimmy Laird who is grieving the sudden loss of his wife while hanging out with his boss Paul, co-worker Gaby (Jessica Williams), friend Brian (Michael Urie) and neighbors Liz (Christa Miller) and Derek (Ted McGinley) ).

Ford also spoke to PEOPLE at the Dec. 12 event and explained that he takes seriously the responsibility of telling the story of someone diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

ShrinkageTed McGinley of ‘Thought He’d ‘Die” Before Playing Role Like Derek ‘Gets Teary-Eyed’ With Confession (Exclusive)

Harrison Ford in “Downsizing”.

Apple TV+

“There are people who absorb experiences like this with grace, courage and a little bit of wisdom,” he said. “I just want to say that this is a person uniquely equipped to communicate how it is, and that’s something that I feel is worth sharing with our audience.”

“I feel like I’m telling a story,” Ford explained. “The story I tell is the story I know, so I can just feel it.”

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Shrinkage season 2 can be streamed on AppleTV+.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education