Michael J. Fox became a household name when he starred as Alex Keaton in the popular sitcom Family Ties (1982-89), but it wasn’t until he scored the role of Marty McFly in the Back to the Future franchise that his career really took off. In the years to come, he starred in many popular films throughout the 1980s and ’90s.
Fox officially retired from acting in 2020. In an extremely emotional moment, he was honored for his contribution to the film industry and, more importantly, his work in Parkinson’s activism at the 2022 Governors Awards.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease
In 1998, Michael J. Fox opened up about receiving his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 1991, when he was just 29. He was told he only had 10 years left to work and that his symptoms would progress. However, it was difficult to predict just how much worse he would get.
Immediately following his diagnosis, Fox struggled deeply. He started to drink and fell into a depression. He expressed that he was essentially in a seven-year period of denial about the news, but he eventually sought help, attended Alcoholics Anonymous and therapy, and decided he’d finally discuss his condition openly.
“What happened next was remarkable,” he recalled. “The outpouring of support from the public at large and the beautiful reaction from all of my peers in the entertainment business.”
Becoming an activist
It was because of his own experience that Michael J. Fox decided to found the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000, following his retirement from Spin City (1996-2002), to help raise funds to contribute to research. He’s maintained an optimistic front about his own diagnosis, as well as about the foundation’s goal to find “a cure within a decade.”
While this goal hasn’t been met, in the last 20+ years, the foundation has become “the most credible voice on Parkinson’s research in the world.” Furthermore, it’s the world’s largest non-profit funder of drug development for the disease – it has contributed over $1 billion toward research as of November 2022.
How does Michael J. Fox maintain his sense of humor?
It’s been decades since Michael J. Fox received his Parkinson’s diagnosis. In an interview with PEOPLE magazine, the actor and activist revealed that he’s had to turn to his dark sense of humor to remain in a positive state of mind – it’s a coping mechanism. That being said, it’s been difficult to keep it intact as his disease has progressed.
Fox’s sense of humor has also served as a way to bridge difficult conversations, with him adding, “Let’s embrace that and make a difference.”
2022 Governor Awards ceremony
It’s this tireless research and fundraising that resulted in Michael J. Fox being awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar given to an “individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.” During his acceptance speech, Fox credited many people and thanked those who supported him from the beginning of his public journey in 1998, saying, “It was transformative.”
He also thanked his wife of 34 years, Tracy Pollan, who’s been with him every step of the way. Before receiving his award, Fox was introduced by his co-star from Doc Hollywood (1991), Woody Harrelson, who had nothing but wonderful things to say about him.
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“This guy was a master class in comedy,” Harrelson said. “He turned a chilling diagnosis into a courageous mission. Michael J. Fox never asked for the role of Parkinson’s advocate, but it is his best performance.”