Michael J Fox has been applauded by Shrinking costar Jason Segel ahead of his hotly-anticipated appearance in the Apple TV+ show.
In a new interview, How I Met Your Mother star Jason, 45, revealed just how much of an inspiration the Back to the Future actor was for him during the earlier days of his television and film career.
The sweet moment comes weeks after it was announced that Michael, 63, is coming out of retirement amid his Parkinson’s battle and returning to the small screen, delighting fans across the globe.
Speaking at the Shrinking FYC Event at Apple TV+ Emmy House at The Hollywood Athletic Club on Sunday, Jason swooned of Michael: ‘I didn’t get so specific as much as telling him that he was an idol of mine.
‘I got the chance to tell him that he was a huge inspiration to me while I was in a weirdly similar situation doing How I Met Your Mother and movies at the same time and being tired.’
He continued to People: ‘We always would talk about Michael J. Fox and what he was doing with Back to the Future and Family Ties at the same time.
‘He’s an idol for sure.’
It was revealed earlier this month that Michael would be coming out of retirement to appear in the upcoming third season of Shrinking.
Jason Segel has heaped praise on Michael J Fox as they prepare for Shrinking season three
Michael is due to appear in the new series of the Apple TV+ show alongside Jason
The Hollywood star initially went into retirement in 2020 due to his struggles from Parkinson’s.
Emotional fans took to social media to share their delight over the news amid the star’s health woes.
‘My admiration for this man has no limits! I’m happy to see him acting again,’ one fan gushed in a Reddit post announcing the news.
They continued: ‘Having Parkinson’s disease in my immediate family, I appreciate how much he has done for raising awareness of the disease, and I have enjoyed how he has incorporated the disease into his acting. Looking forward to seeing what he will be doing in Shrinking.’
‘Good for him! Excited to see him,’ wrote another.
‘With how well Shrinking balances its humor with gut-punch moments, I wouldn’t be surprised if Fox really puts his soul into his character and makes it feel cathartic,’ chimed in someone else.
‘Oooh! Love the show and this is really cool news. I can see him fitting into the cast very well,’ another enthused fan wrote.
Shrinking follows widowed and grieving therapist Jimmy (Jason Segel) who begins to break the rules and tells his clients exactly what he thinks.
Shrinking follows widowed and grieving therapist Jimmy (Jason Segel)
The Back To The Future star Michael last acted when he reprised his Good Wife character, Louis Canning, in the 2020 spinoff The Good Fight
Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives, including his own.
Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at age 29 while filming Doc Hollywood, after experiencing a sore shoulder.
The actor went public with his diagnosis in 1998.
Michael previously worked with Shrinking’s co-creator Bill Lawrence on ABC’s Spin City. However, he left after season four in 2000 after his Parkinson’s symptoms worsened.
The dad-of-four also featured in a two-episode arc Scrubs, another Lawrence-led series, where he played a genius doctor with severe OCD.
Michael has said the disease prompted him to largely retire from acting, devoting more time to spending time with his family and working for his foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which funds research and the search for a Parkinson’s disease cure
Most famously, Michael starred as teenager Marty McFly in the science fiction movie Back to the Future in 1985, as well as in the sequels Back to the Future Part II (in 1989) and Back to the Future III (in 1990).
Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at age 29
Harrison Ford celebrated his new costar Michael and pointed out his ‘willingness’
Harrison Ford also spoke highly of Michael and his enthusiasm to join Shrinking.
‘His willingness to be part of our show is a great source of inspiration and gives us a real purpose,’ he told People.
The octogenarian actor plays therapist Dr. Paul Rhodes in the TV show, who faces his own Parkinson’s diagnosis.
He explained: ‘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.’
When asked if working with Michael aided his depiction of the disease, Harrison said: I’m sure that there are subtle things that will show up later.
‘When we were together, it was an accomplishment of all of us trying to meet all the ambitions, both obvious and attendant, to the ideas we’re trying to deal with.’
He noted: ‘I’ve done what I could to acquaint myself with the aspects of the disease that I’m portraying.
‘My character’s in a much different stage of the disease than Michael’s. But Michael is totally there on the intellectual level. And emotionally, his humor and his courage are evident.’
