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Acclaimed actor, comedian, and author Michael J. Fox rose to prominence in the late 1980s for his starring role in the blockbuster franchise, Back to the Future. Following his outstanding performance in the franchise, Fox went on to headline multiple mega-hit films, including Teen Wolf, Doc Hollywood, and Casualties of War.
Unfortunately, almost as soon as Fox attained bona fide superstar status and landed a spot among Hollywood’s highest paid actors, he began grappling with a health condition that would severely curtail his flourishing career. Here’s everything we know about the dark personal struggles that forced the 61-year-old four-time Golden Globe winner to an early retirement.
8 Michael J. Fox Was At The Height Of His Career When He Was Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Disease
Shortly after his time on the Back to the Future trilogy came to an end, Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease; a degenerative disorder that severely limits muscular coordination and balance.
Unsurprisingly, Fox found coping with his diagnosis incredibly tasking, resorting to masking his pain with alcohol and prescription drugs. “I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t know what was coming. So what if I could just have four glasses of wine and maybe a shot?” Fox said in a new documentary, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie. “I was definitely an alcoholic.”
7 Michael J. Fox Became Quite Skilled At Hiding His Diagnosis
In the years that followed his diagnosis, Michael J. Fox became quite skilled at masking his symptoms, often using prescription drugs to hide his gradually declining health.
“Therapeutic value, comfort — none of these were the reason I took these pills. There was only one reason: to hide,” he recalls in the documentary. “I became a virtuoso of manipulating drug intake so that I’d peak at exactly the right time and place.”
The prolific actor, then in his thirties, also turned to work to avoid dealing with his diagnosis. “You can’t pretend at home that you don’t have Parkinson’s because you’re just there with it,” he said. “If I’m out in the world, I’m dealing with other people, and they don’t know I have it.”
6 Getting Sober Proved An Arduous Task For Michael J. Fox
After years of intense alcohol and drug use, Michael J. Fox finally embarked on the arduous task of getting sober. However, with abstinence came the heartbreaking realization that he could no longer hide from his diagnosis; forcing him to confront it head on.
“As low as alcohol had brought me, abstinence would bring me lower,” he admitted in the documentary. “I could no longer escape myself.”
5 Michael J. Fox Gradually Came To Accept His Diagnosis
After seven years of what he described as a “festival of self-abuse,” Michael J. Fox finally came to terms with his diagnosis. In the years that followed, the actor went public with his diagnosis and began learning strategies to build strength and curtail the effects of his diagnosis on his daily life.
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“Some people would view the news of my disease as an ending,” he said. “But I was starting to sense it was really a beginning.”
4 Michael J. Fox Became One Of The Most Optimistic People In Hollywood
In the three decades following his diagnosis, Michael J. Fox became one of the most vocal advocates for Parkinson’s disease, and helped raise billions of dollars in aid of Parkinson’s research. The actor also came to adopt a remarkably positive outlook on life despite insurmountable personal woes, ultimately becoming an inspiration to millions worldwide.
Astoundingly, despite the progressive nature of his diagnosis, Fox figured out a way to continue pursuing his film and television career, adn went on to build a portfolio rivaling some of the most renowned actors in Hollywood.
3 Michael J. Fox Would Suffer Yet Another Terrible Health Setback In 2018
Despite his positive outlook, Michael J. Fox would suffer yet another health setback that would bring his career to a startling halt. In 2018, a noncancerous tumor, unrelated to his Parkinson’s diagnosis, was discovered in the actor’s spine, setting into motion a chain of events that would leave him questioning his signature optimism.
“I was heading for paralysis if I didn’t get it operated on,” the actor disclosed to People in 2020, adding that the tumor “was constricting the [spinal] cord, so they had to be very careful in removing it, so they wouldn’t do further damage.”
2 Michael J. Fox Found A Way To Embrace Optimism Despite His Struggles
Two years after successfully undergoing a risky surgery to remove a noncancerous tumor from his spine, Michael J. Fox retired from Hollywood. In the years that followed, the actor found himself reevaluating his perspective on optimism.
“Optimism is really rooted in gratitude,” he said. “Optimism is sustainable when you keep coming back to gratitude, and what follows from that is acceptance. Accepting that this thing has happened, and you accept it for what it is. It doesn’t mean that you can’t endeavor to change. It doesn’t mean you have to accept it as a punishment or a penance, but just put it in its proper place. Then see how much the rest of your life you have to thrive in, and then you can move on.”
1 Michael J. Fox’s Outlook On Life Has Drastically Improved In Recent Times
After some intense self-reflection, Michael J. Fox finally restructured his perspective on optimism and consequently, gained a new lease on life. The 61-year-old is currently enjoying his retirement in the company of his wife, Tracy Pollan, whom he met on the set of the popular 90s NBC sitcom, Family Ties.
“It’s not that I wasn’t sincere before, but my gratitude is deeper now, from having gotten through the darkest times,” he told People. “My life now is quiet, and I’m actually having a really good time. People don’t believe me, but I love life. I love being with my family. I love being with Tracy. I love that I don’t do a lot of useless stuff that I used to do, because I don’t have the energy or the time. I’m grateful that I went through a crucible there in my late 50s. I figured some of this crap out finally, and it didn’t haunt me into my 70’s and 80’s.”
