Neil Flynn expressed his excitement about returning for season 3 of the Apple TV+ dramedy Shrinking, working closely with Harrison Ford and Michael J. Fox. Speaking at the Scrubs revival premiere in Los Angeles on February 23, Flynn described the experience as surreal yet thrilling, especially when sharing scenes with these iconic actors. He plays Raymond, a longtime patient of Dr. Paul Rhoades, Ford’s character on the series.
Flynn remarked,
“All my scenes so far have been with Harrison, which is just great,”
adding,
“Recently, we did one with Harrison and Michael J. Fox where the two of them were in the room, and it was very strange to be in that situation. But this late in the game, it’s all a thrill.”
He credited Bill Lawrence, the show’s creator and his longtime friend, for bringing him on board.
“That’s thanks to Bill Lawrence, inviting me to join in the fun,”
Flynn noted.
A Longstanding Friendship Between Neil Flynn and Bill Lawrence
The actor shared that his relationship with Lawrence originated well before their collaboration on television.
“I met Bill when he was about 22 years old, and we agreed to play in the same league basketball. It had nothing do with show business,”
Flynn explained, emphasizing the foundation of their friendship outside the entertainment industry. They have since reunited professionally on both Shrinking and Scrubs, the latter having recently returned with a revival.
Flynn recalled,
“Years later, I moved away, and when I came back we happened to cross paths again and he was an executive producer on Scrubs,”
adding,
“We’ve always had a solid friendship based on things other than show business.”
This connection paved the way for Flynn’s roles in both series.
Michael J. Fox’s Guest Role and Personal Connection to Parkinson’s Storyline
Season 3 of Shrinking features Dr. Paul Rhoades navigating the challenges of Parkinson’s disease, a storyline deeply personal for Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed with the condition in 1991. Fox makes a guest appearance as Gerry, a patient who forms a bond with Dr. Rhoades as they manage life with Parkinson’s. The actor stepped out of retirement for the role, recognizing the importance of authentically portraying this journey.
Fox described his time on set with Ford as remarkable, saying,
“[He’s] so brilliant and so fun to work with,”
and,
“[He’s] so protective of me and wanted me to have a great experience.”
In turn, Ford praised Fox, calling him
“generous, supportive, open, just a wonderful person. And pretty goddamn good actor too.”
The Emotional Impact of Portraying Parkinson’s Disease
Fox previously shared with Vanity Fair how deeply moved he was by Ford’s performance. Despite not having Parkinson’s himself, Ford convincingly conveyed the illness with such authenticity that Fox recognized his own experiences reflected in Ford’s acting.
“That’s one thing that’s amazing about Harrison. He doesn’t have Parkinson’s, but he’s a brilliant actor. I don’t have to convince him I have Parkinson’s, but he had to convince me he had Parkinson’s,”
Fox shared.
He continued,
“What I wasn’t prepared for was how much of his own understanding of the disease he brought to it. I mean, I recognized Parkinson’s in his eyes. The things I was feeling, I recognized in the way he was expressing himself.… I was just brought to tears by it.”
Creator Bill Lawrence’s Inspiration from Michael J. Fox
Bill Lawrence, the creator of Shrinking, described how Fox’s influence shaped Dr. Rhoades’ storyline. Having worked with Fox previously on the 1996 series Spin City, Lawrence expressed a desire to tell a story that honored Fox’s experience with Parkinson’s in a hopeful and inspiring way.
“It’s cool to get to write about things you care about now, and Michael J. Fox is my first mentor, so we wanted to represent it in hopefully an inspiring and not sad or tragic way,”
Lawrence said.
New Episodes and Continuing Journey on Apple TV+
Shrinking’s third season continues to release new episodes every Wednesday on Apple TV+. The series blends humor and emotional depth, focusing on characters wrestling with significant life challenges, including the realistic portrayal of Parkinson’s disease that reflects both Fox’s personal journey and Ford’s compelling performance.
