Chris Hemsworth was hesitant to reveal his genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease because of his acting career.
Hemsworth, known for his role as Marvel superhero Thor, told Variety in an interview published Wednesday that he thought he was “putting people in too much depth.”
“Are they going to stop believing in action stars and Marvel characters anymore?” he asked. “And do I want people to know this much about my fears and insecurities?”
Hemsworth, 42, revealed his predisposition in 2022 and has since revealed that his grandfather and father had the disease, which has no cure.
At the time, the actor said he was “eight to 10 times more likely” to fight the progressive disease because he has a copy of the gene APOE4 from his parents.
However, he clarified that he has not yet submitted his resignation.
“It’s not a predetermining gene, but it’s a strong indication. I think 10 years ago it would have been more thought of as being definitive,” he said.
Hemsworth was disappointed in the way the media fabricated his confession as if he was destined to be diagnosed with the disease.
“I felt like I was being vulnerable about something so personal and then sharing it, and it really pissed me off,” he told Vanity Fair in 2024.
He continued, “No matter how much I said, “It’s not the death penalty,” he ended up suffering from dementia and having to reconsider his life and retire.”
Hemsworth has been more cautious about his acting career since his father’s heartbreaking diagnosis.
“I was like, ‘I came from nothing, so who am I to turn down that kind of money?'” he said of the blockbuster films he starred in early in his career. “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 said his 2025 documentary “A Road Trip To Remember,” about his father’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease, was “very personal.”
“It was a love letter to my father,” he said. “It gave him strength for a period of time and stimulated memories that were being taken away from him.”
The Australian actor revealed he was changing his lifestyle after learning he was at risk.
“I’m lifting less frequently than I used to and incorporating more cardio and endurance training, which I much prefer over intense bodybuilding-style sessions,” he told Men’s Health in 2023.
He also started prioritizing sleep and taking ice baths regularly.
That same year, Hemsworth took a step back from his acting career, but stressed that he was not retiring.
