Harrison Ford Calls Michael J. Fox a “Great Source of Inspiration” as He Returns to Acting in Shrinking Season 3

Hollywood legends Harrison Ford and Michael J. Fox are teaming up in a powerful and deeply personal way. At the Shrinking FYC event on May 18 at Apple TV+ Emmy House in Los Angeles, Ford, 82, shared heartfelt praise for his new co-star, Michael J. Fox, calling his involvement in the series “a great source of inspiration” — both for the cast and for audiences.

Fox, 63, is joining the cast of Shrinking for its upcoming third season, marking his return to on-camera acting after announcing his retirement in 2020 amid his long battle with Parkinson’s disease. While the specifics of Fox’s character remain under wraps, his casting marks a reunion with Shrinking co-creator Bill Lawrence, who worked with Fox on Spin City in the late 1990s.

“His willingness to be part of our show is a great source of inspiration and gives us a real purpose,” Ford told PEOPLE. “It’s not just us coming together, two actors. There’s a story to tell, and our commitment to the story is what joins us together. I appreciate his willingness to be a part of the show.”

Ford, who plays therapist Dr. Paul Rhodes in the series, portrays a character living with Parkinson’s himself. The Emmy-nominated actor has spoken openly about taking the role seriously — using his platform to spotlight the realities of living with a neurodegenerative disorder. Parkinson’s, a progressive brain disease, causes tremors, muscle stiffness, and coordination issues, and may also bring mental and emotional challenges over time.

Ford emphasized that while his character and Fox’s experiences with the disease may differ in stage and detail, their shared goal is to portray Parkinson’s with authenticity and respect. “Michael is pleased the series is bringing Parkinson’s more into the light,” Ford said. “He’s totally there on the intellectual level. And emotionally, his humor and his courage are evident.”

Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991 at just 29 and has since become one of the world’s leading advocates for Parkinson’s awareness and research. Despite stepping back from acting in 2020, he has remained an active voice through his foundation — The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research — which has raised over $1 billion toward finding a cure.

When asked if working with Fox influenced his own portrayal of Parkinson’s, Ford replied, “I’m sure there are subtle things that will show up later.” He added that collaborating with Fox and the team felt like “an accomplishment of all of us trying to meet all the ambitions” of the show’s themes.

Ford also reiterated the seriousness of his performance: “There’s no intention to make it into a joke,” he said. “But there are people who absorb these kinds of experiences with grace and courage and a little bit of wisdom. Michael is particularly equipped to communicate what it is that it’s like, and that is something I feel is worth sharing with our audience.”

As Shrinking prepares for its third season, now bolstered by Fox’s return to the screen, the series continues to blend humor and heart with an authentic exploration of mental and physical health. Seasons 1 and 2 are currently streaming on Apple TV+.