Harrison Ford on his ‘Shrinking’ character’s Parkinson’s journey


He’s on the case. 

Harrison Ford said he’s not blasé about his “Shrinking” character, Dr. Paul Rhodes, having Parkinson’s.

When People asked how seriously he takes it, the “Indiana Jones” star replied, “Can I say deadly f – – king seriously?”

Ford, 82, co-stars in the AppleTV+ show, which is currently two seasons and has been renewed for a Season 3. 

Created by Bill Lawrence, star Jason Segel and “Ted Lasso” star Brett Goldstein, “Shrinking” follows Jimmy Laird (Segel), a therapist who, in the midst of grieving his wife’s death, crosses ethical boundaries to be overly honest with his patients. 

Lukita Maxwell and Harrison Ford in “Shrinking.” ©Apple TV/Courtesy Everett Collection
Harrison Ford in “Shrinking.” ©Apple TV/Courtesy Everett Collection
Jason Segel, Brett Goldstein, Harrison Ford at the Deadline x Apple TV+ “Shrinking FYC” event held at Harmony Gold on December 13, 2024. Deadline via Getty Images

Ford’s character is one of his colleagues. His Parkinson’s diagnosis was revealed at the end of the first season. 

“There’s no intention to make it into a joke,” Ford told People.

“But there are people that absorb these kinds of experiences with grace and courage and a little bit of wisdom. And that is not to say that some people do not.” 

The “Star Wars” star added, “It’s just to say that this is a person particularly equipped to communicate what it is that it’s like, and that is something that I feel that is worth sharing with our audience.” 

Lawrence, 56, told The Post earlier this month: “The greatest gift of my professional career is getting to be involved in this stage of Harrison Ford’s career. It’s been really cool. He’s so conscientious. He’s so passionate.”

Harrison Ford and Jason Segel in “Shrinking.” Apple TV+
Harrison Ford attends an evening with Apple TV+’s “Shrinking” presented by the Paley Center For Media at Writers Guild Theater on December 12, 2024. Getty Images

Lawrence said he thinks the role gets emotional for Ford, as the superstar is in his golden years.

“I think it gets emotional for him. I don’t think I’m talking out of school because we’re writing about a guy who loves his profession and is apprehensive about ever having to give it up,” Lawrence said.

“He’s brought an emotional level to it that I did not expect. And he’s kept it from feeling kind of disease of the week, trauma porn,” Lawrence shared of Ford’s portrayal of the psychologist.

“It’s really, really so respectful because Brett and I wrote about Parkinson’s because of my dad, Michael J. Fox, Phil Stutz and Brett’s father. Harrison’s given it such care. We were super, super grateful. Brett and me.”

Harrison Ford and Wendie Malick in “Shrinking.” Apple TV+
Brett Goldstein attends the SAG Awards Season Celebration at Chateau Marmont on December 12, 2024. WireImage

Last month, Goldstein revealed on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” that the character is based on his father. 

“So my dad has Parkinson’s, and it wasn’t something we weren’t going to talk about publicly when we were talking about the show,” he explained. 

But, he said, Lawrence “let it slip” accidentally. 

After that, Goldstein shared, “I called my dad, and I was like, ‘Listen, Dad, Bill said about you having Parkinson’s. I hope that’s not a problem.’ And my dad said, ‘Are you telling everyone that I’m Harrison Ford?’ And I said, ‘Yeah,’ and he went, ‘F – – king cool. Go for it. Please, go for it.’”



Harrison Ford on his ‘Shrinking’ character’s Parkinson’s journey

In the upcoming film “Shrinking,” Harrison Ford plays a character who is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The veteran actor recently opened up about the challenges and emotional journey of portraying a character with this debilitating condition.

Ford spoke about the importance of portraying Parkinson’s disease accurately and respectfully on screen. He explained that he spent hours researching the symptoms and effects of the disease in order to accurately portray the physical and emotional toll it takes on individuals.

The actor also revealed that he drew inspiration from real-life individuals who are living with Parkinson’s, and their resilience and strength in the face of adversity. Ford expressed his admiration for those who continue to live their lives to the fullest despite their diagnosis, and he hopes to honor their experiences through his performance in “Shrinking.”

Ford emphasized the importance of raising awareness about Parkinson’s disease and the need for more research and support for those affected by it. He hopes that his portrayal of a character with Parkinson’s will shed light on the challenges faced by individuals living with the disease and inspire empathy and understanding among audiences.

“Shrinking” is set to be released later this year, and Ford’s portrayal of a character with Parkinson’s is sure to be a powerful and moving performance. Stay tuned for more updates on the film and Ford’s journey in bringing this character to life on screen.

Tags:

Harrison Ford, Parkinson’s journey, actor, character development, Hollywood, Parkinson’s disease, acting, celebrity, health, progression, film industry, personal journey, acting career, onscreen portrayal, character growth, iconic actor, Parkinson’s awareness.

#Harrison #Ford #Shrinking #characters #Parkinsons #journey

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