Michael J. Fox has always been more than just Marty McFly and today he turned 64.
Decades after he raced through time in Back to the Future, fans still adore the beloved actor for his charm, talent, and perseverance. But in recent years, the spotlight has shifted. And not to his career, but to his courageous fight against Parkinson’s disease.
A Life-Altering Diagnosis at Just 29
Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991, right as his career was soaring during the filming of Doc Hollywood. What started as a twitching pinky and a sore shoulder turned into a lifelong battle. At first, he didn’t take it seriously.
“They said, ‘You won’t be able to work in a few years,’ and I’m thinking, ‘From this?’” he once recalled.
Seven years later, in 1998, he went public with his diagnosis. And he didn’t just speak up. He took action.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation: A Legacy Beyond Acting
Fox founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000, now one of the world’s leading organizations in Parkinson’s research. Backed by science and personal passion, his foundation has poured millions into studying the disease’s biological markers and searching for a cure.
From Hollywood Star to Quiet Hero
Though Parkinson’s eventually forced Fox to retire from acting in 2020—he candidly admitted he couldn’t remember his lines anymore—his impact hasn’t faded.
A moment of clarity while watching Leonardo DiCaprio’s character struggle in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood confirmed it:
“I cannot remember it anymore,” he said.
But that didn’t mean giving up.
In 2023, Fox made waves with his documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, opening up like never before. And just last year, in a powerful surprise appearance at the Glastonbury Festival, he joined Coldplay on stage, playing guitar in a wheelchair and leaving fans speechless.
He May Be Slowing Down—But He’s Not Stopping
Now 64, Fox is still open to returning to acting… if the right role lets him incorporate his reality.
“If something came up that I could put my challenges into, I’d figure it out,” he told Entertainment Tonight.
With humor, heart, and grit, Michael J. Fox remains a symbol of strength. And not just for fans, but for millions living with Parkinson’s worldwide.
