• by Tanya Gazdik , 4 hours ago

Actors Michael J. Fox and Harrison Ford, who recently shared the screen on Apple TV’s multiple-Emmy-nominated series “Shrinking,” are teaming up in a campaign to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease. 

The collaboration,  “So…Your Friend Has Parkinson’s”  is from the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

“The Emmy-winning actor, who was diagnosed in 1991 with early-onset Parkinson’s disease at 29, offers Ford a few simple rules during the conversation,” according to The Daily Beast. “At the end of the video, the 'Star Wars' actor repeats Fox’s guidelines, stating, ‘Don’t make it weird. Start simple. Help, don’t fix. Keep showing up.’ Fox then jokingly declares Ford ‘officially qualified to be a friend.’”

The video was created in partnership with entertainment company Maximum Effort, helmed by Fox Foundation board member Ryan Reynolds.

“The iconic pair tackle the deceptively simple question: How do you show up for someone living with Parkinson’s?” according to Broadway World. “The awareness campaign comes at a meaningful moment for Fox and Ford, who have both earned Emmy nominations this year for their performances on 'Shrinking.' Fox returned to acting as Gerry, the longtime friend of Ford's Dr. Paul Rhoades, a therapist living with Parkinson’s."

The video blends a gently humorous, accessible and compelling message, while surfacing some of the very real challenges of living with the disease, from changes in handwriting to social isolation, according to the foundation. 

“As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized social connections mean so much—Parkinson’s or not,” Fox tells Town & Country. “Shooting 'Shrinking' with Harrison and the friendship we've developed reminded me how important those connections are. I hope the authenticity of our friendship comes through in the campaign. We’re using humor and banter to get at what matters. But there’s tremendous seriousness of purpose behind it. We want the community to know that as long as Parkinson’s exists, the Foundation will be here to support everyone living with the disease. The challenges are real, but knowing you’ve got someone in your corner makes a huge difference. And that’s why this campaign is so important.”