3 minutes of readingNew DelhiFebruary 5, 2026 05:32 pm IST
Marvel star and action hero Chris Hemsworth revealed a worrying detail about his health a couple of years ago. The actor shared that his grandfather had Alzheimer’s disease and that his father is currently battling the same condition. Hemsworth also discovered that he has a genetic predisposition that significantly increases his risk of developing the disease. In a recent interview, the actor spoke about the illness and the fear he felt before revealing it to the world.
While speaking to The Guardian about his new film with Mark Ruffalo, Crime 101, Hemsworth also addressed his diagnosis and how that made him feel. He said he was reserved about telling people about his condition because he felt it might prevent him from getting more work as an action superhero. He said: “I was wondering if I was letting people in too deep. Are they not going to believe in the action star or the Marvel character anymore? And do I want people to know my fears and insecurities on this level?”
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The Thor star also said he now has a very different approach to work and life. He said: “My appetite for running forward has really been curbed. I’ve become more aware of the fragility of things. You start to think, ‘My dad won’t be here forever.’ And my kids are now 11 and 13. Those nights when they were fighting to sleep in our bed suddenly don’t happen anymore.”
Chris Hemsworth admitted to taking on roles that felt more personal to him since his father’s diagnosis. Hemsworth talked about coming from “nowhere” and how ridiculous he felt turning down roles that would help him financially. He also expressed anger at how people took the news, saying, “It’s not like I was handed my resignation. It’s not a predeterministic gene, but it’s a strong indication. Ten years ago, I think it was considered more determinative. It really made me a little angry because I felt like I was vulnerable with something personal and shared this. No matter how much I said, ‘This is not a death sentence,’ the story became that I have dementia and I’m reconsidering life and retiring, etc.
Hemsworth made the announcement in 2022 during his Limitless series. Doctors told him that his genetic makeup consists of two copies of the APOE4 gene, which puts him at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s—8 to 10 times more likely.