Television creator Bill Lawrence revealed that Michael J. Fox's journey with Parkinson's disease served as inspiration for Harrison Ford's character in the AppleTV+ series "Shrinking."
Speaking at "An Evening with Shrinking at PaleyLive" event on December 12, Lawrence shared how Fox, his first mentor, influenced the show's portrayal of the neurological condition. "We wanted to represent it in hopefully an inspiring and not sad or tragic way," Lawrence told PEOPLE.
The connection between Lawrence and Fox dates back to "Spin City," the first show Lawrence co-created, where Fox publicly disclosed his Parkinson's diagnosis in 1998 during the series' run.
For the upcoming third season of "Shrinking," Lawrence expressed his commitment to authentically portraying life with Parkinson's. "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 work harder than anybody I know," he explained.
The show features Harrison Ford as Paul, a therapist managing his Parkinson's diagnosis while continuing his mental health practice. Ford emphasized the gravity of portraying someone with Parkinson's, stating he takes the responsibility "deadly seriously."
The personal connection runs deep for the show's creators, as both Lawrence and co-creator Brett Goldstein have fathers with Parkinson's. Lawrence's approach to addressing challenging topics through comedy has resonated with audiences, who have praised the series' uplifting tone.
"Shrinking" follows Jason Segel as Jimmy Laird, a grieving single father, alongside an ensemble cast including Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Christa Miller, and Ted McGinley. The show continues to explore serious themes while maintaining an optimistic outlook, reflecting Lawrence's natural storytelling voice.