Photo Credit: aarp.org, Jeff Lipsky
After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at just the young age of 30, Michael J. Fox realized he was battling a powerful illness. After observing that his left pinkie finger had a small twitch, Fox sought medical attention where his doctors broke the devastating news and gave him a timeline; 10 more years to work, tops. But that has not stopped Fox from pressing on. 21 years later, he is ready to star in a new NBC sitcom that is roughly based on his life, and focuses on the lighter side of living with Parkinson’s disease.
No doubt the illness has progressed, as Fox’s muscles involuntarily shake, twitch, and tremble constantly. But his ability to keep a positive attitude and smile on his face has definitely contributed to the fact that he hasn’t let the disease break him. In fact, you can see in his comments below that his ability to joke about himself and keep a light-hearted attitude about his illness has allowed him to count his blessings and enjoy the life he leads.
On writing Parkinson’s into his character roles
“It’s too difficult to hide it. I could manage it for a scene or so, but it would fall apart over time. As long as I play a guy with Parkinson’s, I can do anything.”
On early fame and appreciating success
“By 21, I was earning six figures a week, and by 23, I had a Ferrari. It was nuts. I never stopped to figure that out.”
“You’re not just a lottery winner. You have to respect the work you do and the work others do and how you got there.”
On his star-making role in Family Ties
“I negotiated the deal from a phone booth outside of Pioneer Chicken, wishing I had $1.99 for a wing-and-biscuit combo.”
On maintaining his sense of humor
“If I’m at events and I’m clapping, my mind will stay, ‘Stop clapping,’ But I just keep going. Tracy says, ‘You’re always the last one clapping.’ I swear, it’s not out of appreciation—it’s out of disintegration. You have to laugh at that.”
On his outlook on life
“If I can accept the truth of: This is what I’m facing—not what can I expect but what I am experiencing now—then I have all this freedom to do other things.”
“I’m always aware that there are others who don’t feel so good and can’t express themselves the way I can. That’s no small factor in the way I’ve been able to deal with this.”
With his new sitcom coming out and his fighting spirit to battle this devastating disease, Michael J. Fox is a true inspiration. For the full article, be sure to check out the feature on aarp.org
