Michael J. Fox Is Back to Acting and Better Than Ever in ‘Shrinking’ Season 3

For years, Michael J. Fox’s absence from television felt quietly permanent. His last major role in The Good Fight seemed to close a chapter defined by resilience and grace. Now, his return in Shrinking season 3 offers something different: not a comeback built on spectacle, but a carefully chosen moment rooted in honesty, humor, and shared experience.

The Apple TV+ series has always balanced emotional weight with warmth, and Fox’s arrival deepens that balance. His role reconnects him with longtime collaborator Bill Lawrence and places him inside a story already shaped by grief, healing, and the complicated work of moving forward.

In Shrinking season 3, which premiered on January 28, Fox plays Jerry, a patient with Parkinson’s disease. He meets Harrison Ford’s character, Dr. Paul Rhoades, in a neurology clinic waiting room. Their shared diagnosis becomes the starting point for a quiet but meaningful bond that reflects the reality of living with a neurodegenerative condition.

Rather than leaning on sentiment, the show allows their connection to unfold naturally. Jerry doesn’t shy away from the difficult realities of the disease, joking about falling and his own hallucinations. I once saw me and Halle Berry in the bathtub, he quips during an exchange defined by dry wit and candor.

Moving forward, together.#Shrinking Season 3 — Streaming Jan 28 pic.twitter.com/7vQm6DMiQ3

— Apple TV (@AppleTV) December 30, 2025

Fox appears in three episodes this season, and each moment carries deep intention. One encounter lingers beyond the clinic, appearing as a hallucination that pushes Paul to confront his condition directly. The storyline fits seamlessly into Shrinking, where emotional reckoning builds through small, human interactions.

The return to acting came after Fox watched the show and reached out to Lawrence himself. I said, ‘You did a show about Parkinson’s, and you didn’t call me?’ Fox recalled. He made one request clear: he wanted to play just a guy, not a version of himself.

For Lawrence, the moment carried deep personal meaning, having worked with Fox since the days of Spin City. He noted that even younger crew members were struck by Fox’s sharp comedic timing. The show suggests that Parkinson’s does not erase humor or agency, and it lets that truth speak without explanation.

Outside of the show, the 64-year-old actor remains a tireless advocate for research. On January 4, 2025, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which has raised over $2 billion. In late 2025, he also released his fifth book, a memoir titled Future Boy.

Fans of the actor’s voice work can also hear him in Zootopia 2, where he plays a fox named Michael J. This live-action return, however, feels more personal. Alongside new cast members like Jeff Daniels, who plays Jimmy’s father, Fox helps anchor a season that Apple TV+ has already renewed for a fourth year.

As Shrinking continues its weekly release through April, Fox’s performance as Jerry serves as a powerful reminder of his enduring talent. By bringing his own realities to the screen, he has turned a guest spot into a beacon of hope. It is a triumphant moment for an actor who continues to redefine what is possible.

What do you think about Michael J. Fox’s choice to return to acting with such a grounded and honest role? Share your thoughts in the comments.