Michael J. Fox Opens Up about Acting and Parkinson’s Disease
Michael J. Fox, known for his role as Marty McFly, recently shared his candid thoughts on his acting career and his battle with Parkinson’s disease. At 60 years old, Fox has been devastated by the effects of the disease, which has made acting increasingly challenging for him.
Instead, he played up his illness. He portrayed an OCD physician on House in 2004. He portrayed lawyer Louis Canning in The Good Wife, who tricked jurors by claiming to have a neurological condition.
Fox reflected on his struggle with memorizing lines, admitting that it has become more difficult due to his illness. During an episode of the Working It Out podcast, he revealed, “I got this blank, I couldn’t recall the lines when I performed The Good Fight, the spinoff from The Good Wife.”
The actor had no trouble recalling his lines. “I understood it right away, and I continued to feel that way. Knowing that a pricey Steadicam shot depends on me remembering the lines without breaking a sweat, I would have 70 pages of speech in a [Brian] De Palma film.
Despite the challenges he faces, Fox remains resilient. He has learned to reject roles with extensive dialogue and has come to accept the limitations imposed by his condition.
Fox underwent spinal cord surgery years ago and has since undergone extensive physical therapy to regain his strength and mobility. Despite setbacks, such as a recent accident in the kitchen that resulted in a broken arm, Fox maintains a positive attitude.
During a reunion event with Christopher Lloyd, his co-star from Back to the Future, Fox briefly discussed his Parkinson’s diagnosis. The audience cheered as they witnessed Fox’s determined entrance onto the stage, despite his condition.
While Fox has faced occasional criticism and trolling online, he remains resilient. He shared an anecdote about how his son advised him to respond with humor and not let negative comments affect him.
Even the kindhearted optimist Michael J. Fox eventually gets tired of being called names. I’m glad he has kids to push him to come back.
Fox’s children have been a source of support and inspiration for him, encouraging him to keep moving forward despite the challenges he faces.
In conclusion, Michael J. Fox continues to navigate the difficulties of Parkinson’s disease while maintaining his passion for acting. His resilience, optimism, and dedication to finding a cure through his foundation serve as an inspiration to many.
