At the onset of the current year, the highly anticipated documentary chronicling the life of the beloved actor Michael J. Fox made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City. Produced by the Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, the film revisits the journey of the actor, who achieved stardom in the 80s through iconic roles in movies like Back to the Future and TV series like Family Ties.
Following its premiere, the film received a special screening at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Austin, Texas, where Michael, accompanied by his wife Tracy Pollen, shared insights into his life with Parkinson’s disease. Diagnosed at the tender age of 29, shortly after his marriage to Tracy and the birth of their first child, Michael has found unwavering support from his wife. Together, they navigate the challenges posed by Parkinson’s and actively contribute to fundraising efforts for finding a cure.
Revealing his condition to the public in 1998, Michael semi-retired from acting two years later as his health declined. Despite the initial struggle to accept the reality, Michael has chosen to embrace life to the fullest, determined to make the best out of it despite the adversities imposed by the disease.
“Living with Parkinson’s is challenging, but life itself is remarkable, so I’m grateful for it,” expressed the actor. “Self-pity is a subtle form of mistreatment. I could feel sorry for myself, but that’s not where I want to invest my time. There are valuable lessons in this experience, so let’s embrace them and keep moving forward,” he added.
“My fans have essentially given me the gift of life. I wanted to dedicate my time and gratitude to these wonderful people who have done so much for me. Hearing from all of you has been truly uplifting.”
In the past, the star of Spin City reflected on the choice to continue working in films after the diagnosis, stating, “I have no regrets. You do what you have to do, but you don’t want to destroy yourself. And that’s when I decided to step back.”
Together with his wife, Michael established the Michael J. Fox Foundation, with the mission of advancing Parkinson’s disease research through funded initiatives. Presently, the organization stands as the largest non-profit contributor to Parkinson’s research globally. His commitment to aiding individuals with the same disease he battles earned him a spot on Time Magazine’s 2007 list of 100 people “whose influence, talent, or moral example is transforming the world.”
While he continued to pursue acting after the diagnosis, his focus shifted primarily towards lending his voice in films such as Stuart Little and Disney’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
In addition to his contributions to the film industry, the actor has authored four books: Lucky Man: A Memoir (2002), Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (2009), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned (2010), and his fourth, No Time Like the Future, which was released on November 17, 2021.
Recently, he once again shared insights into his life, revealing that despite his ongoing efforts to project positivity regarding his disease, the challenges are becoming more formidable.
“I’m not gonna lie. It’s gettin’ hard, it’s gettin’ harder. It’s gettin’ tougher,” Fox told CBS Sunday Morning anchor Jane Pauley.
“Every day it’s tougher. But, but, that’s, that’s the way it is. I mean, you know, who do I see about that?”
He also discussed the spinal cord surgery he had to undergo. “[I] broke this arm, and I broke this arm, I broke this elbow. I broke my face. I broke my hand,” Fox shared with Pauley.
“You don’t die from Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s,” Fox concluded. “I’ve been contemplating the mortality of it. … I’m not going to be 80. I’m not going to be 80.”
“I’m in intense pain. Each tremor is like a seismic jolt,” the actor revealed.
“It’s not so much pain from the movement, but from the lack of movement. It’s when you freeze, and in that freezing, the lack of movement becomes charged with all this energy and it transforms into this burning, impending thing that never materializes.
“I don’t want to evoke sympathy. I’ve broken my hand, my elbow, my humerus, my other humerus, my shoulder, my face, and some other stuff too. And all that is magnified by the electricity of the tremors. So, yes, it hurts a lot. But what you learn is that nobody cares. It’s just life. It doesn’t matter. You tough it out and you keep going. And maybe there’s a story to tell in it. But only that. There’s no receipt you can hand to life’s window for a refund.”
Despite the challenges in his life, he reassured his fans that he’s here to stay.
“The depression is not so profound that I’m going to harm myself… it always returns to a point where I think, ‘Well, there’s more to rejoice in my life than there is to grieve.’ The pain is self-evident. You either endure it or you don’t. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Michael J. Fox is an extraordinary actor and person, and we sincerely wish him the very best in the years ahead. Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.
