Chris Hemsworth was hesitant to reveal his genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease for the sake of his acting career.
“I wondered if I was letting people too far in,” Hemsworth — known for his role as Marvel superhero Thor — told Variety in an interview published Wednesday.
“Are they no longer going to believe in the action star or the Marvel character?” He questioned. “And do I want people to know my fears and insecurities to this level?”
Hemsworth, 42, revealed the predisposition in 2022 and has since shared that his grandfather and father were hit with the disease, which has no known cure.
At the time, the actor shared that he has a copy of the gene APOE4 from both parents, making him “eight to 10 times more likely” to battle the progressive disease.
However, he made clear that he hasn’t “handed in [his] resignation.”
“It’s not a pre-deterministic gene, but it is a strong indication. Ten years ago, I think it was more thought of as determinant,” he said.
Hemsworth was disappointed with the way the press spun his admission to make it seem like he was destined to be diagnosed with the disease.
“It really kind of pissed me off because it felt like I had been vulnerable with something personal and shared this,” he told Vanity Fair in 2024.
He continued, “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 and so on.”
Hemsworth has been more selective with his acting gigs since his father’s heartbreaking diagnosis.
“I’d think, ‘I came from nothing. Who am I to turn down that kind of money?’” he said, referring to the blockbuster films he took on earlier in his career. “Justifying things that weren’t the purest creative decision – but I’ll be able to pay for my parents’ house, or I’ll be able to help out my cousins.”
Hemsworth said that his 2025 documentary, “A Road Trip To Remember” — which explores his dad’s battle with Alzheimer’s — was “so deeply personal.”
“It was a love letter to my father,” he said. “It empowered him for a period, and stimulated memories that were being taken away from him.”
The Aussie actor revealed that he was making lifestyle changes after learning he is at risk.
“I’m lifting less frequently than I was and I’m incorporating more cardio and endurance workouts which I much prefer than heavy body-building style sessions,” he told Men’s Health in 2023.
He also started prioritizing sleep and taking regular ice baths.
That same year, Hemsworth took a step back from his acting career — but emphasized that he is not retiring.
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