In 1991 Back to the Future actor Michael J. Fox, who was just 29 years old at the time, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Thirty years later, Fox has admitted he is facing more challenges as he ages and the disease progresses. Ever the optimist, he’s still able to find gratitude and happiness although he has admitted there’s a role he regrets passing up on now.
Fox’s rise to stardom was all self-made
Fox was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on June 9, 1961 to William and Phyllis Fox. In his early years, Fox’s desire to be an actor grew and at 15 years old he landed his first role in the 1978 series Leo and Me. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream full-time when he was 18, but eventually found himself jobless and living off boxed macaroni and cheese. Finally, Fox’s big break came when he was cast as Alex Keaton on the 1982 TV sitcom Family Ties.
Michael J. Fox and his wife Tracy Pollan at the Annual Golden Globe Awards in 1986. (Photo Credit: Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images)
Following Family Ties, Fox’s career took off as he booked feature films like Teen Wolf (1985) and of course Back to the Future (1985). While filming Doc Hollywood in 1991, Fox started displaying early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. He initially saw the doctor because of a twitching finger and sore shoulder, but the world-shattering news he was given took Fox by surprise: in just a matter of years, he would not be able to work.
Parkinson’s changed his life overnight
Interestingly, Fox is one of at least four cast and crew who worked on Leo and Me that has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, leaving some to speculate that environmental factors could be at play. He doesn’t believe this is enough people to count as a “cluster.” In a 2020 interview with The Guardian, Fox shared all of the potential contributors he thinks could have led to his diagnosis:
“I can think of a thousand possible scenarios: I used to go fishing in a river near paper mills and eat the salmon I caught; I’ve been to a lot of farms; I smoked a lot of pot in high school when the government was poisoning the crops. But you can drive yourself crazy trying to figure it out.”
Michael J Fox driving in a convertible in a scene from the film Doc Hollywood, 1991. (Photo Credit: Warner Brothers / Getty Images)
Fox revealed to the world that he had Parkinson’s in 1998 and he’s remained a strong advocate for research and awareness. He opened the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research which has led a $100 million dollar effort to discover biological markers of the disease through the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative. His foundation has raised a whopping $1.5 billion for Parkinson’s research to date.
According to the National Institute on Aging, Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes uncontrollable movements like shaking, stiffness, and difficulty balancing. As the disease progresses, so do the symptoms, which can eventually lead to difficulty walking and talking. People with Parkinson’s can also experience mental health challenges, sleep problems, memory difficulties, and fatigue.
‘It’s been a struggle, but I’m happy’
While Fox has seemed to struggle with intensifying Parkinson’s symptoms over the last few years, he isn’t letting the disease get in the way of living a happy and full life. In an interview with PEOPLE, Fox shared that over the last year he has had several injuries.
“I broke my cheek, then my hand, then my shoulder, had a replacement shoulder put in and broke my arm, then I broke my elbow. I’m 61 years old, and I’m feeling it a little bit more.” Fox also explained that the disease “got worse” since he took a step back from acting in 2020. He made the tough call during a difficult time undergoing surgery to remove a tumor on his spinal cord alongside bigger challenges with his disease, including tremors and cognitive issues.
Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd attend the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson’s” Gala in 2015. (Photo Credit: Noam Galai / WireImage / Getty Images)
“The whole mission is: Don’t fall down,” said Fox. “So whatever works to not fall down, whether it’s a walker or a wheelchair, a cane, a guy with a belt around my waist holding onto it – I use all those tools.” It’s those same tools that helped Fox to walk across the stage unassisted as he reunited with Back to the Future co-star Christopher Llyod in early October.
Fox said he was looking forward to whatever comes next – even if it means facing Parkinson’s head-on. “It’s been a struggle, but I’m happy,” he said. “I say that because I hope on some level people can find happiness in spite of what they’re going through.”
Fox is facing increasing challenges today
During an April 2023 CBS Sunday Morning episode, Jane Pauley interviewed Fox about the increasing challenges he faces as his Parkinson’s disease progresses. Fox openly discussed how difficult things have become, even acknowledging that his condition is “banging on the door” and that each day is tougher than the last. Despite being a vocal advocate for Parkinson’s research through his foundation, Fox admitted that he can’t deny his own mortality.
Michael J. Fox attends the 2023 Sundance Film Festival “STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie” Premiere at Eccles Center Theatre on January 20, 2023 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
He shared that he recently underwent spinal surgery for a benign tumor, which has led to a range of problems, including multiple broken bones from falling. “It’s falling and aspirating food and getting pneumonia,” he said of the disease. “All these subtle ways that gets ya’. You don’t die from Parkinson’s; you die with Parkinson’s. I’m not gonna be 80. I’m not gonna be 80.”
Fox remained optimistic, saying that he can still find gratitude in his life and be hopeful for the future. The interview was part of a promotion for Fox’s new documentary, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.
Memory loss is another struggle for Fox
In a May 2023 interview with The Sunday Times, Fox shared the extent to which Parkinson’s disease affects his memory. Speaking about the new documentary, he expressed astonishment at that period of his life, admitting, “When I look at that time in the [documentary], it just seems unbelievable. I look at all the girls I dated, and some of them I can’t even recall.” Providing a specific example, he said, “I mean, I dated Susanna Hoffs from the Bangles, and I can’t even remember it. But that’s just one instance. Things like that happened regularly.”
Michael J. Fox hugs The Bangles’ lead singer Susanna Hoffs in 1986. (Photo Credit: Angie Coqueran / Corbis / VCG via Getty Images)
Back in 1986, Fox briefly dated Susanna Hoffs, who is now 64. However, he married his wife Tracy Pollan in 1988, while Hoffs married Jay Roach, the director of Austin Powers, in 1993.
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In previous interviews, he’s opened up about the impact of his condition on his memory. He told PEOPLE magazine in 2020, “My short-term memory is not functioning properly. I used to have a talent for remembering lines and scripts. Unfortunately, I encountered some challenging situations during my recent acting roles, which were heavily dependent on dialogue. I struggled with them.”
He regrets turning down a role in ‘Ghost’
During a May 2023 appearance on The View, Fox had a heartfelt moment with Whoopi Goldberg and expressed regret for not working with her on the film Ghost.
Michael J. Fox and Whoopi Goldberg attend the annual Charity Day hosted on September 11, 2015 in New York City. (Photo Credit: Cindy Ord / Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald)
The actor was asked by Goldberg if he had any regrets about turning down acting roles in the past. Fox candidly admitted, “There was a chance to work with you that I missed. They approached me about Ghost early on, and I foolishly thought, ‘It’ll never work.’ I said, ‘Whoopi is amazing, but it’ll never work.'”
Fox humorously sheepishly acknowledged, “And then it turned out to be great and huge, and I’m an… idiot.” Goldberg reassured him, saying, “Well, you know what? There’s still time. So, yeah, we’ll find something to do now.”
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Ghost, released in 1990, earned Goldberg an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The film also won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.