Michael J. Fox returns to acting in a year of major honours

Michael J. Fox appears in the third season of Shrinking, his return to live-action television after retiring from acting in 2020. Fox has also been promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada and will receive the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the Emmy Awards in September.

Photo: Apple TV

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Michael J. Fox stepped back in front of a television camera this year after retiring from acting in 2020.

Now the Burnaby-raised actor has an Emmy nomination, one of television’s highest humanitarian honours and a promotion to Companion of the Order of Canada.

Fox returned to live-action television in January in the third season of the Apple TV comedy Shrinking. His first appearance, in the Jan. 28 season premiere, began a three-episode arc as Gerry, a man living with Parkinson’s disease.

The role put him opposite Harrison Ford, whose character, therapist Dr. Paul Rhoades, is also living with Parkinson’s.

For Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991 and disclosed the diagnosis publicly in 1998, the storyline brought some of his lived experience onto the screen.

It also brought him another Emmy nomination.

The Television Academy nominated Fox for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for his performance in the Shrinking episode “The Field.” It is his 19th Emmy nomination. He has won five.

Fox also made a surprise appearance with the Shrinking cast at PaleyFest LA in April, joining Ford and other members of the ensemble for an event around the season-three finale.

Canada promotes Fox to Companion

Between Fox’s return to television and the upcoming Emmy ceremony came another recognition from Canada.

Rideau Hall announced June 26 that Fox had been promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada.

His promotion was awarded April 17. Companion is the highest of the Order’s three levels, recognizing achievement and merit of the highest degree, particularly service to Canada or humanity at large.

Fox had previously been appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in May 2010 and was invested in May 2011.

In its citation for his promotion, Rideau Hall recognized both sides of his public life: selective acting and his international advocacy surrounding Parkinson’s disease. It also cited his writing, public speaking, work through the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the 2023 documentary Still.

The official citation identifies Fox with Burnaby, B.C., as well as New York.

Fox was born in Alberta in 1961. His father served in the Canadian Armed Forces, and the family moved frequently before settling in Burnaby after his father retired in 1971.

Fox began acting while still in school. Encouraged by a teacher, he successfully auditioned for the Canadian television series Leo and Me and began working in television and local theatre before leaving for Los Angeles as a teenager.

His breakthrough came as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties. His film and television career went on to include the Back to the Future trilogy, Teen Wolf, The Secret of My Success and Spin City, along with later television work on series including Rescue Me, The Good Wife and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Burnaby named Fox a Freeman of the city in 2010.

His name has also been attached to a Burnaby performing-arts venue for more than 30 years. The theatre at Burnaby South Secondary School opened in 1993 and was officially named the Michael J. Fox Theatre in November 1995 in recognition of his achievements in the arts and his connection to the community.

Humanitarian award coming at the Emmys

Fox is also set to be honoured during the Emmy Awards on Sept. 14.

The Television Academy announced July 29 that he will receive the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award during the 78th Emmy Awards telecast.

The award recognizes a television-industry figure whose humanitarian work has had a lasting impact. It is not presented every year.

Fox is being recognized for his work on Parkinson’s research and advocacy through the foundation he established in 2000.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation has supported more than $3 billion in Parkinson’s research programs.

That work remains active at a substantial scale.

The foundation reported in June that it awarded more than $195 million to 84 research projects during February and March 2026. The projects range from research into the biology of Parkinson’s to treatments and interventions intended to improve daily life for people living with the disease.

Another international initiative is also underway. Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s, in partnership with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, announced in April that it is awarding 32 collaborative research-team grants representing more than $261 million in new investment.

The grants support researchers around the world working together on major questions in Parkinson’s research.

Fox established his foundation after years of keeping his diagnosis private.

He was 29 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991. He disclosed it publicly in 1998 and launched the foundation in 2000 with the aim of accelerating research toward better treatments and a cure.

His nomination comes for playing a character living with Parkinson’s. His humanitarian award comes for the work he has done since revealing that he was living with the disease himself.

Canada has added another distinction to that year.

More than 15 years after Michael J. Fox first became an Officer of the Order of Canada, he is now a Companion.