Michael J. Fox can’t afford to feel sorry for himself as he opens up about living with Parkinson’s disease for more than three decades.
Fox was first diagnosed with the condition in 1991 but it went public in 1998, leading him to become an advocate for a cure. Unfortunately, his symptoms worsened, forcing him to retire in 2020. Still, he seems to be living a great life despite the diagnosis and claims to have no regrets.
Michael J. Fox Believes There Are ‘Things’ To Learn From His Parkinson’s Experience
Following the screening of the retired actor’s documentary “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” on Tuesday, March 14, at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, Fox was interviewed about his health and coping with Parkinson’s.
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He was asked how he “mobilized” people to pay attention to the situation, and the iconic actor replied, “I had no choice” adding that he had to give everything he had and show up, doing the best he could.
The “Back to the Future” actor also said, “Pity is a benign form of abuse. I can feel sorry for myself, but I don’t have time for that. There’s something to learn from this, so let’s do that and proceed.”
He answered more questions about his documentary with director Davis Guggenheim, explaining that the reason behind sharing his story was to give back to his fans who gave him life.
“I want to give time and gratitude to those who have served me a lot,” he said. “It’s great to hear from you all.” However, amid the “Family Ties” alum’s positive approach to the debilitating disease, he admits that it’s not so good.
Directing his words to Guggenheim, Fox admitted that Parkinson’s “hurts”, but that he had a great life for which he remained grateful. She later spoke about her time at work following her diagnosis, saying, “I have no regrets – You do what you have to do, but you don’t want to kill yourself. And that’s when I quit.”
As for his film, “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” it provides a complete picture of his public life and “a never-before-seen personal journey, including the years after his diagnosis.”
Elaborating on the film, Fox revealed that the director wanted to cover Parkinson’s without making a film centered around the condition. So he made a “conscious decision not to focus on conditions” but to create something about life.
After going public with his Parkinson’s diagnosis, the “Family Ties” actor admitted that he was surprised to receive an overwhelmingly positive reaction, with many people showing interest in finding “answers to the disease,” which he sees as a great opportunity.
Fox Credits ‘Back To The Future’ For Saving His Life
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At the age of 61, Fox is one of the most recognizable names in the industry, who rose to fame for his role as Marty McFly in the beloved Sci-fi franchise, “Back To The Future.”
While for fans of the film it may be their first introduction to the theory of time travel and its magic, for Canadians, the film is more than just a play. In December 2021, Fox spoke with AARP, describing the end of her acting career and crediting the franchise for her optimistic outlook on life.
In the middle of the discussion, she noted that she was taken with some of the roles she played after her diagnosis, as most of them allowed her to be funny despite being a character with a disability.
However, that couldn’t go on forever because the Canadian-American reached a point where he couldn’t rely on his ability to speak, meaning he couldn’t act “comfortably” anymore, so he gave it all up.
In addition, he became depressed at one point in his life, but thanks to the fans of the “Back to the Future” franchise, he was able to get out of the emotional slump. In his words,
“It’s amazing — more people, of all ages, are approaching me now about the movie (Back to the Future) than ever before. I’m not sure I understand why. Then I came across it on TV last Christmas. And I think I’m really great at it, better than I thought. More importantly, I got the spirit of the movie. I understand it’s just a big laugh and we all need it”
‘Doc Hollywood’ Star Suffers Two More Health Complications Amid Battle With Parkinson’s
While Fox battled Parkinson’s, he also experienced two other health challenges, which he spoke openly about in a 2020 interview.
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He revealed that he was diagnosed with a tumor in 2018 that compressed his spinal cord and almost caused paralysis. The tumor needs to be carefully removed to avoid further complications.
Although the tumor was successfully removed, it took the 61-year-old four months after the operation to walk again. And unfortunately, he later broke his arm in a fall in the kitchen of his New York apartment.
It was Fox’s darkest moment as he waited for the ambulance to arrive, and he realized there was no bright side, leaving him feeling only regret and pain.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
