Michael J. Fox: The Story of Fighting Parkinson’s Disease
28 october 2025 в 20:13
The star of the movie «Back to the Future» Michael J. Fox has been a household name for decades. The Hollywood icon has received numerous awards for his performances on screen and his dedication to raising awareness about Parkinson’s disease. Michael was diagnosed with the disease over three decades ago, and in 2000 he founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Continuing to advocate for those suffering from the disease, Michael has often shared his struggles.
In May 2023, the proud father of four released his film «Still», a documentary about his life and living with his condition. He recalled the first time he noticed his symptoms in 1990. «I woke up with a terrible hangover headache», - shared Michael. «I put my left hand over the bridge of my nose to block out the sunlight. The butterfly wing brushed my right cheek. I put my hand in front of my face to flick the bug across the room. That’s when I noticed my pinky moving involuntarily. Damn, it’s just your damn finger. But it wasn’t mine. It was someone else’s». He concluded, «The tremor was a message from the future».
According to his organization’s website, Michael was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991. «I was in my twenties, how could I have this old man’s disease?» Michael wondered in his 2023 documentary. «With no obvious signs, my left hand began shaking uncontrollably. I asked my therapist to prescribe medication. Therapeutic value and solace were not reasons why I took those pills. There was only one reason — to hide».
It wasn’t until 1998 that the Oscar winner was ready to announce his diagnosis to the world. «Day by day, hour by hour, I never thought about sharing my diagnosis with anyone», - he admitted. «I had a job». He was only 29 when he finally shared the news, meaning he had been living with Parkinson’s disease for over half his life. «The stress of the weekly show [Spin City] in front of an audience exacerbated my symptoms», - Michael shared in his documentary «Still». «My entire left hand shook hard enough to shake my whole body. Nevertheless, no one except my family knew».
However, when he could no longer hide his shaking hand, he had to come clean, and it went better than he expected. «I had to hope they could accept me», - he said. «I got a huge reaction. After all these years of hiding my symptoms, I could let it go. I realized that to do something, I had to just be myself. I was still myself. Some people might perceive the news of my illness as the end, but I began to realize that it was really the beginning». Since revealing to the world that he has this condition, he has been very open in his work to fight the disease, including founding the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000.
In 2022, Michael shared how he told his wife, Tracy Pollan, about his diagnosis during an interview with CBS Sunday Mornings. «We had just gotten married when I was diagnosed», - he explained at the time. «We've been married for 32 years, I was diagnosed 30 years ago. Very early in our marriage she found out about it». He noted that the «last time» they cried over his diagnosis was the first time he told her over three decades ago. Since then, they have welcomed four children: Sam Michael, Schuyler Frances, Aquinnah Kathleen, and Esmé Annabelle.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that can cause «involuntary or uncontrollable movements, such as tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination», - according to the National Institute on Aging. The disease progresses slowly and often makes it difficult for a person to speak and walk. The same organization notes that, although it is unknown why, Parkinson’s disease affects men more often than women. Other symptoms of the disease include «behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue»
In May 2023, the proud father of four released his film «Still», a documentary about his life and living with his condition. He recalled the first time he noticed his symptoms in 1990. «I woke up with a terrible hangover headache», - shared Michael. «I put my left hand over the bridge of my nose to block out the sunlight. The butterfly wing brushed my right cheek. I put my hand in front of my face to flick the bug across the room. That’s when I noticed my pinky moving involuntarily. Damn, it’s just your damn finger. But it wasn’t mine. It was someone else’s». He concluded, «The tremor was a message from the future».
According to his organization’s website, Michael was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991. «I was in my twenties, how could I have this old man’s disease?» Michael wondered in his 2023 documentary. «With no obvious signs, my left hand began shaking uncontrollably. I asked my therapist to prescribe medication. Therapeutic value and solace were not reasons why I took those pills. There was only one reason — to hide».
It wasn’t until 1998 that the Oscar winner was ready to announce his diagnosis to the world. «Day by day, hour by hour, I never thought about sharing my diagnosis with anyone», - he admitted. «I had a job». He was only 29 when he finally shared the news, meaning he had been living with Parkinson’s disease for over half his life. «The stress of the weekly show [Spin City] in front of an audience exacerbated my symptoms», - Michael shared in his documentary «Still». «My entire left hand shook hard enough to shake my whole body. Nevertheless, no one except my family knew».
However, when he could no longer hide his shaking hand, he had to come clean, and it went better than he expected. «I had to hope they could accept me», - he said. «I got a huge reaction. After all these years of hiding my symptoms, I could let it go. I realized that to do something, I had to just be myself. I was still myself. Some people might perceive the news of my illness as the end, but I began to realize that it was really the beginning». Since revealing to the world that he has this condition, he has been very open in his work to fight the disease, including founding the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000.
In 2022, Michael shared how he told his wife, Tracy Pollan, about his diagnosis during an interview with CBS Sunday Mornings. «We had just gotten married when I was diagnosed», - he explained at the time. «We've been married for 32 years, I was diagnosed 30 years ago. Very early in our marriage she found out about it». He noted that the «last time» they cried over his diagnosis was the first time he told her over three decades ago. Since then, they have welcomed four children: Sam Michael, Schuyler Frances, Aquinnah Kathleen, and Esmé Annabelle.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that can cause «involuntary or uncontrollable movements, such as tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination», - according to the National Institute on Aging. The disease progresses slowly and often makes it difficult for a person to speak and walk. The same organization notes that, although it is unknown why, Parkinson’s disease affects men more often than women. Other symptoms of the disease include «behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue»
© Smirnova Olga
