Chris Hemsworth has opened up about why he chose to share publicly that he has a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease, admitting he struggled with whether being so open might change how people see him as an actor.
speaks to The Guardian during the press tour for his upcoming film Crime 101the Marvel star explained that the decision did not come easily, especially given his longstanding image as an action hero.
“I wondered if I was letting people in too far,” Hemsworth said.
“Are they no longer going to believe in the action star or the Marvel character? And do I want people to know my fears and insecurities to this level?”
Hemsworth first revealed the news in 2022 in an episode of his Disney+ series Boundlesswhere a doctor told him that his genetic makeup includes two copies of the APOE4 gene.
Think of the APOE4 gene as a specific version of a “blueprint” for a protein that controls fat and cholesterol in your body.
We all inherit two copies of the APOE gene, one from each parent, but the “4” variant is basically like having a slightly less efficient cleanup crew in your brain.
While its main job is to move fat around, it’s also responsible for removing a sticky “clump” called amyloid that can build up and lead to Alzheimer’s.
Having one or two copies of this version increases your statistical risk of developing the disease, but it is certainly not a guaranteed diagnosis.
Many people carry the gene and stay sharp well into their 90s, especially when healthy lifestyle habits are in the mix, so it’s best viewed as a “heads-up” from your DNA rather than a final verdict.
At the time, he emphasized that the gene was not a certainty, explaining that “it’s not like I’ve been handed my termination” and that while it’s a strong indicator, it’s not pre-deterministic.
The subject has become even more personal for the actor in recent years.
His grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and last November Hemsworth revealed that his father is currently living with the disease.
That reality, he said, has changed how he looks at both life and work.
“My appetite to drive forward has really been curbed,” he told The Guardian.
“I’ve become more aware of the fragility of things. You start thinking, ‘My dad won’t be here forever.’ And my children are now 11 and 13. The nights when they fought to sleep in our bed suddenly don’t happen anymore.”
As a result, Hemsworth said he’s slowing down professionally and choosing projects for more personal reasons.
In the past, he admitted, financial considerations often played a bigger role. He recalled thinking, “I came from nothing. Who am I to turn down that kind of money?” and justifying decisions by focusing on how the work could help support his wider family.
This shift in priorities was reflected in his 2025 documentary A road trip to rememberwhich focused on his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Hemsworth described the film as deeply emotional, saying it “was so deeply personal. It was a love letter to my father. It strengthened him for a period of time and stimulated memories that were taken from him.”
