Harrison Ford Reflects on Sensitive Portrayal of His Shrinking Character’s Parkinson’s Diagnosis: ‘No Intention To Make It Into a Joke’

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As an ardent admirer of Harrison Ford‘s illustrious career spanning decades, I must say his portrayal of Dr. Paul Rhoades in Shrinking is nothing short of commendable. The 82-year-old actor’s approach to the delicate subject matter of Parkinson’s disease is not only sensitive but also deeply respectful.

Harrison Ford approached the characterization of a man diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the show “Shrinking” with great care and understanding. In this Apple TV+ comedy series, he portrays Dr. Paul Rhoades, a seasoned therapist who works alongside Jason Segel’s character Jimmy at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center.

At PaleyLive, Ford discussed the weight of his characterization of Dr. Rhodes’ Parkinson’s saga in the show. Actor Ford, who is 82 years old, expressed that he is treating this role with great care and a heavy sense of duty, as it requires his undivided focus due to its significance.

He said, “There’s no intention to make it into a joke. 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.”

In the initial season of the show, it was revealed that Paul’s character had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Ford made sure to portray this serious situation without resorting to humor or trivialized depictions. Instead, he aimed to highlight how some individuals face such challenges with strength, elegance, and insight.

Ford clarified, “In other words, this individual has unique abilities to convey their experiences, and I believe that such insights are valuable for our viewers to hear.

Brett Goldstein, the co-creator and writer of the series, revealed that Dr. Paul Rhodes was based on his father who has Parkinson’s disease. Interestingly, they hadn’t intended to discuss this aspect initially, but one of the other writers accidentally mentioned it. Upon consulting his father, he gave his approval and was thrilled about the link between his condition and Thomas Ford’s portrayal.

Just last month, while chatting on Late Night with Seth Meyers, I shared an amusing anecdote about my father. He asked me, “Are you telling everyone that I’m Harrison Ford?” To which I replied in the affirmative. His response? A casual, “Freaking awesome! Go for it!” Encouraging words from a man who knows a thing or two about living an extraordinary life.

You can now watch Season 2 of “Shrinking” on Apple TV+. This series features Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Christa Miller, Michael Urie, Luke Tennie, Lukita Maxwell, and Ted McGinley in the lead roles.

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2024-12-26 09:38