Michael J. Fox isn’t letting his decades-long battle with Parkinson’s disease slow him down from achieving his professional or personal ambitions.
The beloved Back to the Future star, 64, was diagnosed with the progressive neurological disorder in 1991 at just 29 years old and went public with his condition seven years later.
Over the decades, Fox has become one of the most prominent advocates for Parkinson’s research through his Michael J. Fox Foundation, which has raised over $2 billion to fund scientific breakthroughs and treatments.
While he stepped back from acting in 2020 due to health challenges related to the disease, Fox recently filmed a guest arc on Apple TV’s Emmy-nominated series Shrinking and is promoting his fifth book, Future Boy.
‘I see other people’s work, and it makes me think that I might be able to find something that’s for me as an actor and as a writer,’ he told People. ‘And as a parent, husband and friend, I have a lot left to do.’
In Shrinking, which stars Harrison Ford, Fox played a character with Parkinson’s, which marks a first for him.
Michael J. Fox isn’t letting his decades-long battle with Parkinson’s disease slow him down from achieving his professional or personal ambitions; seen last year
‘It was the first time ever I get to show up on set, and I didn’t have to worry about am I too tired or coughing or anything,’ he says. ‘I just do it.’
His approach to navigating Parkinson’s, which affects his movement, speech, and coordination, remains deeply pragmatic and hopeful.
‘I wake up and get the message of what the day is gonna be like, and I try to adjust to it,’ he said. ‘I keep getting new challenges physically, and I get through it. I roll around in a wheelchair a lot, and it took some getting used to.’
Still, Fox explains he tries to ‘take the good’ and ‘seize it’ whenever given the chance.
Reflecting on the past year, Fox, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January in recognition of his advocacy, said things have ‘just been really positive, really energizing.’
‘If you put your mind to it,’ he insisted. ‘You can do anything.’
The actor and his wife Tracy Pollan, who wed in 1988, share four children, Sam, 36, twin daughters Aquinnah and Schuyler, 30, and Esmé, 23.
Fox initially went into retirement in 2020 due to his struggles from Parkinson’s.
The beloved Back to the Future star, 64, was diagnosed with the progressive neurological disorder in 1991 at just 29 years old and went public with his condition seven years later
‘As a parent, husband and friend, I have a lot left to do,’ he told People; pictured with wife Tracy Pollan, son Sam Michael, twin daughters Aquinnah Kathleen and Schuyler Frances in 2023
Reflecting on the past year, Fox, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January in recognition of his advocacy, said things have ‘just been really positive’
Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at age 29 while filming Doc Hollywood, after experiencing a sore shoulder.
The actor went public with his diagnosis in 1998.
Michael previously worked with Shrinking’s co-creator Bill Lawrence on ABC’s Spin City. However, he left after season four in 2000 after his Parkinson’s symptoms worsened.
The dad-of-four also featured in a two-episode arc Scrubs, another Lawrence-led series, where he played a genius doctor with severe OCD.
Michael has said the disease prompted him to largely retire from acting, devoting more time to spending time with his family and working for his foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which funds research and the search for a Parkinson’s disease cure
Most famously, Michael starred as teenager Marty McFly in the science fiction movie Back to the Future in 1985, as well as in the sequels Back to the Future Part II (in 1989) and Back to the Future III (in 1990).
Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at age 29 while filming Doc Hollywood, after experiencing a sore shoulder; pictured last year
Most famously, Michael starred as teenager Marty McFly in the science fiction movie Back to the Future in 1985 (seen in 1987)
Harrison Ford also spoke highly of Michael and his enthusiasm to join Shrinking.
‘His willingness to be part of our show is a great source of inspiration and gives us a real purpose,’ he told People.
The legend plays therapist Dr. Paul Rhodes in the TV show, who faces his own Parkinson’s diagnosis.
He explained: ‘It’s not just us coming together, two actors. There’s a story to tell, and our commitment to the story is what joins us together. I appreciate his willingness to be a part of the show.’
When asked if working with Michael aided his depiction of the disease, Harrison said: I’m sure that there are subtle things that will show up later.
‘When we were together, it was an accomplishment of all of us trying to meet all the ambitions, both obvious and attendant, to the ideas we’re trying to deal with.’
He noted: ‘I’ve done what I could to acquaint myself with the aspects of the disease that I’m portraying.
‘My character’s in a much different stage of the disease than Michael’s. But Michael is totally there on the intellectual level. And emotionally, his humor and his courage are evident.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .