Michael J. Fox has been outspoken about his health journey following his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease and has remained committed to raising awareness to help find a cure.
In Touch takes an inside look into the Back to the Future star’s health battle and what he’s said about it over the years.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a “movement disorder of the nervous system that worsens over time,” according to the Mayo Clinic. It can result in tremors, muscle stiffness, slowing of movement – also known as bradykinesia – and difficulty with balance “that raises the risk of falls.”
It can also affect speech, posture and cause a loss of “automatic movements” such as blinking or smiling.
How Long Has Michael J. Fox Had Parkinson’s Disease?
He was diagnosed in 1991, when he was only 29 years old. He went public with his condition seven years later in 1998.
Michael confessed he’d initially been “really nervous” about speaking out about his condition.
“I didn’t want to put it out there, but, given the nature of Parkinson’s, it was going to become evident sooner or later,” he explained to People in an April 2024 interview. “It was an amazing time because the response was great. The response was loving and supportive, and I really couldn’t have been … It was a payoff for all the stuff I’d done through the years.”
Michael J. Fox Comes to Terms With His Diagnosis Through Humor
Prior to the premiere of his NBC sitcom, The Michael J. Fox Show, which ran from 2013 to 2014, Michael shared, “I have challenges that come with Parkinson’s, but my experience is to deal with things through humor.”
While attending his annual A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s gala in November 2024, Michael admitted to People that holding onto his dark sense of humor is sometimes “hard” for him, but he’s “gotta keep it intact.”
Michael J. Fox Founded a Nonprofit for Parkinson’s Disease Research
The actor founded his nonprofit, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, in 2000 – two years after he first spoke publicly about his own diagnosis. His hope is that the foundation will one day be able to find a cure for the disease.
“They didn’t have money, they didn’t have a voice, and I thought, I could step in for these people and raise some hell,” he told CBS Mornings in 2023 while speaking about why he chose to start the nonprofit. “It’s not a cure. But it’s a big spotlight on where we need to go, and what we need to focus on so we know we’re on the right path, and we’re very proud.”
Michael J. Fox Goes ‘Beyond’ His ‘Physical Challenges’ From Parkinson’s Disease
With his diagnosis have come a number of physical symptoms he’s had to deal with, including tremors and issues with balance and coordination.
“There’s been a lot of challenges. A lot of physical challenges these days have been different bits, but just that I had a lot of stuff … A lot of things have been a lot of effort,” the actor said in April 2024. “And so it was a tough year, but a good year, in each of the challenges [that] came up.”
“With the help of family, with the help of people that I work with, I’ve been able to meet those challenges and go beyond them and do new things,” he added at the time.
Michael J. Fox’s Shares How He Stays Positive Amid Health Battle
When asked about how he stays positive in an April 2025 interview with ET, Michael replied, “Well, if you imagine the worst case scenario and then it actually happens, you’ve lived it twice. So I just take each day as it comes.”
He also noted he has the support of his wife, Tracy Pollan, and their children, Sam, Esme, Aquinnah and Schuyler.
“The love of other people really helps, but the love of yourself helps,” he added. “And to — to know that you deserve to be taken seriously.”
