Michael J. Fox has been living with Parkinson’s disease for more than three decades. And while he has been an inspiration to so many, he is confronting his morality, which he’s certain he is as close to as ever, saying the disorder is “banging on my door.”
Speaking with Jane Pauley on CBS Sunday Morning, Fox said Parkinson’s, which he was diagnosed with in 1991, is growing increasingly difficult to live with. “I’m not gonna lie. It’s gettin’ hard, it’s gettin’ harder. It’s gettin’ tougher. Every day it’s tougher. But, that’s the way it is. I mean, you know, who do I see about that?”
Fox added that Parkinson’s has also caused him to encounter numerous mishaps and injuries. “[That’s] a big killer with Parkinson’s. It’s falling…and aspirating food and getting pneumonia. All these subtle ways that get ya…You don’t die from Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s. So I’ve been thinking about the mortality of it…I’m not gonna be 80. I’m not gonna be 80.”
It’s a devastating statement, especially compared to other comments he has made. Fox previously joked about his apparently constant presence, which does also feel like a subtle acknowledgement of his refusal to give up his fight with Parkinson’s, saying, “How can you miss me if I won’t go away?…I’m not going anywhere, unfortunately.”
Fox retired just a couple of years ago after a lengthy career that found him playing such characters as Marty McFly, a teen wolf and others, in addition to snagging a record-tying four Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscars and so many more accolades. In 2000, he established his namesake foundation, which has raised over $1.5 billion for Parkinson’s research.
Fox was the subject of Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, which documents his career and battle with Parkinson’s. It premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival (read our own Chris Bumbray’s 9/10 review here) and will come to Apple TV+ on May 12th.
What is your favorite Michael J. Fox performance across movies and TV? Will you watch Still when it arrives on streaming in a couple of weeks? Let us know below!
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