‘Shrinking’ S3 teases Jeff Daniels’ explosive arrival and we can’t wait to see how it turns family dynamic

Jeff Daniels joins ‘Shrinking’ Season 3 as Randy’s estranged father, bringing shocking family secrets and intense drama to the new season.
UPDATED FEB 11, 2026
Jeff Daniels in an interview with GQ Magazine and Jason Segel in a still from 'Shrinking' (Cover Image Source: (L) YouTube | GQ; (R) Instagram | @appletv)
Jeff Daniels in an interview with GQ Magazine and Jason Segel in a still from 'Shrinking' (Cover Image Source: (L) YouTube | GQ; (R) Instagram | @appletv)

Jason Segel's Jimmy Laird might be doing admirably on Season 3 of 'Shrinking'. However, there's nothing like an estranged father's resurgence to shake things up. Entertainment Weekly recently reported on an exclusive Apple TV preview of the third episode of 'Shrinking' Season 3, scheduled to air on Wednesday. In the preview, Jeff Daniels is seen as Jimmy's father, Randy. 

A still of Jeff Daniels as Randy and Jason Segel as Jimmy in 'Shrinking' Season 3 (Cover Image Source: Instagram | @mrbrettgoldstein)
Jeff Daniels as Randy and Jason Segel as Jimmy in 'Shrinking' Season 3 (Cover Image Source: Instagram | @mrbrettgoldstein)

However, Randy's presence at the family dinner table causes Jimmy consternation. Meanwhile, Jimmy's daughter Alice, played by Lukita Maxwell, is delighted by her grandfather's presence, hoping that he will be able to talk some sense into her idiosyncratic father. The first look images further confirm that Jimmy would be subjected to a considerable degree of the good old paternal admonition in the upcoming episode. 

In response to Randy's question about Jimmy's life, the latter reveals he's just going through the motions and isn't dating anyone at the moment. However, Alice soon quips that Jimmy shouldn't forget about the presence of Sophia in his life. "Word on the street is, he's too afraid to ask her out," Alice said to Randy. The grandfather soon retorts with, "Jimmy's always had trouble asking girls out. Every time he tried, he got a nosebleed." Although Jimmy tried to defend himself by saying, "That was one time!", he couldn't prevent his daughter and his father from bursting into peals of laughter. The episode's official logline of the third episode reads, "Jimmy and Liz show up for Brian and Charlie when Ava goes into labor. Sean reconnects with his ex, Marisol."

Speaking about her and Jimmy's estranged relationship with his father and the resultant character arc, Maxwell remarked to EW, "Jimmy feels like his dad wasn't there for him during the loss of his wife, and he wanted more support from a parent that he didn't feel like he got, and Alice's relationship with her grandpa is a loving, caring one, and she's trying to toe the line of having a relationship with her grandpa while also being sensitive towards her dad's feelings towards him." 

Daniels is a veteran actor known for both his comedic and serious dramatic roles. He found widespread success with his portrayal of Harry Dunne opposite Jim Carrey's Lloyd Christmas in the 1994 blockbuster 'Dumb and Dumber'. His most recent notable work includes the Emmy Award-winning Aaron Sorkin show 'The Newsroom' on HBO. 'Shrinking' season three also stars Christa Miller, Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Luke Tennie, and Ted McGinley. Cophie Smulders plays the character of Sophie, with Michael J. Fox appearing as Gerry. The second episode of the third season, which aired previously, saw Jimmy and Alice bid farewell to Louis, played by Brett Goldstein, and the upcoming episode is expected to follow in the aftermath. 'Shrinking' is exclusively available on Apple TV. 

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