Michael J. Fox Who Was Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Disease 30 Years Ago Reflects On His Life: “I’m Kind Of A Freak"

Fans of Michael J. Fox see him as an inspiring, funny, and talented actor who played beloved characters like Marty McFly and Mike Flaherty. Fox was first diagnosed with Parkinson's, a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, in 1991 and later went public with his diagnosis in 1998. The disease develops slowly over many years, and symptoms may include tremors, balance problems, slowed movements, and stiffness in the limbs, according to the Parkinson's Institute. While Parkinson's itself is not fatal, it can result in many complications. Fox admitted that it was impacting his memory and speech, so he decided it was time to step back from taking roles. The actor revealed that diagnosis has forced him to end acting for good, but he remains positive through it all. 

He opens up about how he is living with the trying progressive disease for the cover story of AARP The Magazine's December 2021/January 2022 issue. "For one thing, I am genuinely a happy guy. I don't have a morbid thought in my head — I don't fear death. At all. But as I came through that darkness, I also had an insight about my father-in-law, who had passed away and always espoused gratitude and acceptance and confidence," the star shared. "I started to notice things I was grateful for and the way other people would respond to difficulty with gratitude. I concluded that gratitude makes optimism sustainable."

Fox added, "And if you don't think you have anything to be grateful for, keep looking. Because you don't just receive optimism. You can't wait for things to be great and then be grateful for that. You've got to behave in a way that promotes that." He makes sure that his diagnosis doesn't dictate his life, explaining that "the disease is this thing that attached to my life — it isn't the driver. And because I have assets, I have access to things others don't," he said. "I wouldn't begin to compare my experience to that of a working guy who gets Parkinson's and has to quit his job and find a new way to live. So, I'm really lucky." Speaking of his legacy, he said he hopes "my children are a positive influence in the world. I hope people will enjoy my work as an actor and get something from it. At a deeper level, I hope people see sincerity in the things I've said and done. If I've positively helped anybody with Parkinson's, that's great, too."

The Family Ties actor co-founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000, which is a non-profit to help find a cure for Parkinson's disease. He doesn't believe a cure will be found in his lifetime, but he doesn't take for granted how privileged he has been to be able to continue acting for 30 years with his diagnosis. Even though some days are really difficult, he powers through. "I'm kind of a freak. It's weird that I've done as well as I have for as long as I have," he said. "People often think of Parkinson's as a visual thing, but the visuals of it are nothing. On any given day, my hands could be barely shaking, or they could be …" He flailed his hands around. "It's what you can't see—the lack of an inner gyroscope, of a sense of balance, of peripheral perception. I mean, I'm sailing a ship on stormy seas on the brightest of days."

For anyone with Parkinson's or for those caring for a loved one who is battling the disease, he advised, "Have an active life and do not let yourself get isolated and marginalized. You can live with it...You need to exercise and be in shape and eat well. If you can't drive, find a way to get around. Maintain friendships."