Chris Hemsworth told the Guardian in a new interview during his Crime 101 press tour that he had some hesitation going public with the news that he has a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease and is eight to 10 times more likely to develop it. The actor was concerned about how such news would affect public perception of his film career.
“I thought maybe I was putting people in too much depth,” Hemsworth said. “Do they no longer believe in action stars and Marvel characters? And do I want people to know this much about my fears and insecurities?”
Hemsworth revealed this in a 2022 episode of his Disney+ series “Limitless” that featured the Thor actor meeting with a doctor and being told that his genetic makeup contains two copies of the gene APOE4, which is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Hemsworth’s grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The actor revealed in November last year that his father is currently battling illness.
Mr Hemsous told the Guardian that his father’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease was part of the reason for the slowdown in his career at this point.
“It really curbed my desire to run forward,” he said. “I’ve become more aware of the fragility of things. I start thinking, ‘Daddy’s not going to be here forever.’ And my kids are now 11 and 13. Those nights when they were fighting over getting a bed are suddenly gone.”
His father’s diagnosis has also influenced his acting choices. While Hemsworth previously made more financial decisions, he is now taking on a more personal role. “I was thinking, ‘I came from nothing, so who am I to turn down that kind of money?'” he says. “You can justify things that weren’t purely creative decisions, but you’ll be able to pay for your parents’ house, and you’ll be able to help out your cousins.”
Hemsworth’s 2025 documentary “A Road Trip to Remember” focuses on his father’s Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. The actor said the project was “very personal. It was a love letter to my father. It temporarily gave him strength and sparked memories that were being taken away from him.”
When Hemsworth revealed his genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease in 2022, he said, “It’s not a sign of resignation,” adding, “It’s not a predetermined gene, but it’s a strong indication. I think 10 years ago it would have been considered definitive.”
In 2024, Hemsworth criticized the media for publishing his revelations in Vanity Fair with a headline claiming that he was certain he would be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in the future.
“It really pissed me off because I felt like I was being vulnerable about something personal and then sharing it,” he said at the time. “No matter how much I told him, “This is not a death sentence,” he ended up getting dementia, rethinking his life, and retiring.”
Hemsworth’s “Crime 101” will be released in theaters on February 13th by Amazon MGM. He is set to return to the big screen as Thor in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in theaters on December 18th.
