Parkinson’s disease, 61-year-old Michael J. Fox, best known for his role as Marty McFly in the cult Back to the Future franchise, was diagnosed back in 1991. Since then, he has established a foundation to research the disease, received the Gene Hersholt Humanitarian Award and an honorary award for outstanding philanthropic service, and has never stopped fighting the disease. This year, however, has brought new woes for the actor. Apart from the fact that the actor’s mother Phyllis passed away in September at the age of 92, he suffered several serious injuries.
“I broke my jaw, then my arm, then my shoulder and then my elbow. I’m 61 years old, but I feel much older,” the actor confessed.
Fortunately, Fox’s condition has improved, which the actor says has given him an emotional boost. The actor is determined to take care of his health at all costs.
“Just now, the last of my injuries are healing and my arm feels good. Life is interesting,” he said. – “The mission is not to fall down. So anything that helps me not fall, 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. “
Fox also admitted that after he and his wife Tracey Pollan came face to face with his illness, their marriage has only grown stronger.
“It took me a while to realise it wasn’t just about me. If I break my arm, it won’t just be my problem.”
The actor noted that his children have never seen their father fully healthy. Fox and Pollan have four: 33-year-old son Sam, 27-year-old twin daughters Aquinnah and Shyler and 21-year-old youngest daughter Esme.
“My youngest children never knew me without Parkinson’s disease. And the oldest Sam was two or three years old when I was diagnosed. So they never knew anything different.”
It should be noted that Michael J. Fox is now increasingly going out unassisted. Thus, in early October, he was reunited with his colleague from the film “Back to the Future” Christopher Lloyd and took part in the New York Comic Con.
Parkinson’s disease significantly affects his cognitive abilities, and good memory is known to be an actor’s main tool. Fox finally retired from cinema in 2020, leaving behind striking roles in three instalments of Back to the Future, The Secret of My Success and Casualties of War, as well as the TV series Spin City, Save Me and The Good Wife.
