Last month, we asked the Parkinson’s community for their views on the portrayal of the condition by fictional characters in TV shows and films – and they came back with some very interesting answers.
The topic raised lots of thought-provoking questions; not just about how important it is that the condition is portrayed accurately, but also about the part TV and film can play in increasing public awareness about Parkinson’s.
Harrison Ford received praise for his portrayal of Dr Paul Rhoades, a man with Parkinson’s in Apple TV+’s Shrinking, which has just been given the green light for a second series. “Harrison Ford is doing a great job in Shrinking,” said Larry Gifford of Parkinson’s advocacy group PD Avengers.
Aidan Turner’s role as a man recently diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s in last year’s ITV series The Suspect stood out for Martin Pickard of poetry collective Poets with Parkinson’s. “I was pleasantly surprised,” said Martin. “In the first place, it was good to actually see a character with Parkinson’s on the TV – I honestly cannot remember seeing one before, it’s like we don’t exist!
“Secondly, the portrayal was very real with plenty of mention of symptoms other than tremor, and the impact of stress on the condition. I read later that Parkinson’s UK had assisted with the characterisation, which would have helped a lot. I think it will have helped non-Parkinson’s people to understand more about the life we lead.”
English actor Eddie Marsan’s turn as Terry Donovan, a man with Parkinson’s in TV series Ray Donovan – which ran on Showtime from 2013 to 2020 – was also praised by more than one person. “Terry in Ray Donovan – excellent portrayal of Parkinson’s,” said Adell Dunleavy on our social media platforms. “With each new series you could see his progression. Amazing acting.”
The New Music, a 2019 film about a classically trained pianist who, following diagnosis, ends up in a punk band, was singled out for its realism by John Macphee on our social media platforms.
The 2018 film Kinetics, about an unlikely friendship between Rose, a middle-aged woman with early-onset Parkinson’s, and Lukas, a rebellious teenage boy who enjoys Parkour, was a highlight for Nigel Smith of Poets with Parkinson’s. “I like the realism – the main actress [and writer Sue Wylie] had Parkinson’s – but also the contrast between the restriction of one character with the freedom of the other.”
It wasn’t all positive feedback, however. Anne Hathaway was slated for her role as Maggie, a young woman diagnosed with Parkinson’s in Love and Other Drugs (2010). Mirjam Holzel said her portrayal was “not realistic. Usually, the head and eye movements are not frozen enough – apparently the poker face is a difficult thing to act.” Nevertheless, Mirjam was “very moved by the film and happy they chose good-looking actors”. She also found the part where Maggie’s boyfriend asks a man whose wife is in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s for advice “very emotional”, quoting the reply given by the man in the film: “My advice is to go upstairs, pack your bags, and leave a nice note.”
And surprisingly, given that it is a medical soap, Grey’s Anatomy came in for criticism. “Dr David Hamilton’s character wasn’t believable,” posted Carol Janssen. “The doctors worked on a miracle cure for Parkinson’s. They performed some experimental surgery that doesn’t exist in the real world and then the whole storyline just disappeared.”
Want to watch Parkinson’s on screen? Here’s a list of TV series and films as well as documentaries featuring the condition.
Films and TV series featuring Parkinson’s
Ecstasy (2023)
A short, dark comedy about a man with Parkinson’s who enlists his son to help him score some ecstasy pills to help alleviate his symptoms. Watch on YouTube.
Kaleidoscope (TV series, 2023)
A master thief and his crew attempt an epic and elaborate heist worth $7 billion dollars, but betrayal, greed and other threats undermine their plans. Giancarlo Esposito portrays Leo Pap, who has Parkinson’s. Watch on Netflix.
Kinetics (2018)
Written by and starring person with Parkinson’s Sue Wylie as Rose, a middle-aged woman with early-onset Parkinson’s, and Lukas, a rebellious teenage boy who enjoys Parkour.
Late Night (2019)
Starring Emma Thompson as Katherine, a late-night talk-show host, and John Lithgow as Walter, her kind and indulgent husband who has Parkinson’s. Watch on Prime Video.
Love & Other Drugs (2010)
In 1990s Pittsburgh, medicine peddler Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) starts a relationship with Maggie Murdock (Anne Hathaway), a young woman living with Parkinson’s. Watch on Prime Video.
Mank (2020)
1930s Hollywood is re-evaluated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman) as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane (1941). In the film, Jamie McShane plays character Shelley Metcalf who faces a Parkinson’s diagnosis. Watch on Netflix.
Marriage Story (2019)
Noah Baumbach’s emotional divorce drama features actor with Parkinson’s Alan Alda, who plays Bert Spitz, the attorney of Adam Driver’s character, Charlie Barber. Baumbach doesn’t mask Alda’s shaking hands but keeps them in the frame, a visual contrast to the slick moves of the sharklike lawyers elsewhere in the movie. Watch on Netflix.
Ray Donovan (TV series, 2013–2020)
Ray Donovan, a professional ‘fixer’ for the rich and famous in Los Angeles, can make anyone’s problems disappear except those created by his own family. Ray’s brother Terry Donovan – played by Eddie Marsan – is a former boxer who has developed Parkinson’s. Despondent and shy, Terry owns a boxing gym in LA where his father and brothers hang out. Watch on Prime Video.
Shrinking (TV series, 2023)
This comedy about grief by Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein and Jason Segel features Harrison Ford as a wise, funny therapist who has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Watch on Apple TV+.
The Good Wife (TV series, 2009–2016)
Michael J. Fox plays Louis Canning, a New York attorney who suffers from tardive dyskinesia. Watch on Prime Video.
The Manor (2021)
After suffering a mild stroke and showing signs of Parkinson’s, Judith Albright (played by Barbara Hershey) reluctantly moves into a historic nursing home where she becomes convinced a supernatural force is killing the residents. Watch on Prime Video.
The New Music (2021)
After his Parkinson’s diagnosis, a classically trained pianist embarks on a path of self-discovery, leading him to a punk band. Their rebellious lifestyle and music provide a distraction from his troubles and a sharp contrast to his old life. Watch on AppleTV+, Sky Store or Prime Video.
The Suspect (ITV, 2022)
In this UK drama series, Aidan Turner plays Dr Joe O’Loughlin, who is coming to terms with a recent Parkinson’s diagnosis. Watch on ITVX.
The Spiral (2020)
In this multiple award winning short film, Igor Buzaev tells the story of a girl who dreams to treat her father from Parkinson’s. The film is based on a true story. Watch here.
Parkinson’s documentaries
English National Ballet
A short video for World Parkinson’s Day featuring dancers from the ENB’s Dance for Parkinson’s programme. Watch on Twitter.
Happy Hour (2023)
Dr Ines Debove and filmmaker Bettina Rotzetter explore the topic of quality of life and Parkinson’s. Watch on YouTube.
HerStory
An opera performed by 85 people with Parkinson’s across the UK. Watch on Instagram.
Mediflix
Mediflix is a platform created to help find the answers, advice, and guidance needed to better understand specific health conditions. Watch films about Parkinson’s here as well as videos by Parkinson’s advocacy group, PD Avengers.
Passion, Purpose & Parkinson’s (2023)
Director Olz McCoy’s short documentary about three creative people living with Parkinson’s and their respective experiences. In partnership with Cure Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s UK. Watch on vimeo.
Sr. (2022)
Robert Downey Jnr’s film features the actor and his dad, who lives with Parkinson’s. Watch a trailer on YouTube. Watch the film on Netflix.
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023)
Biography/documentary film exploring Michael J. Fox’s personal and professional triumphs and travails with Parkinson’s. Watch on Apple TV+.
Stutz (Jonah Hill) (2022)
Follows Jonah Hill and his therapist Phil Stutz as they have candid discussions about mental health and anxiety, as well as giving an honest insight into Stutz’s life with Parkinson’s. Watch on Netflix.
What’s the best and worst portrayals of Parkinson’s you’ve seen on TV or in film? Tell us in the comments below.
