In 1982, Michael J. Fox sat down with Gene Pauley to promote his new show family ties. The actor’s breakout role as conservative teen Alex P. Keaton led to his famous roles in the first two films of 1985 –Back to the future And Teen Wolf respectively.
40 years later, the two reunite, this time to talk about Fox’s 30-year struggle with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement such as walking, speech, and balance.
Fox quipped that Parkinson’s disease is “the gift you keep taking”.
But he revealed to Polly:
“I’m not going to lie. It’s getting harder.”
“Every day is harder.”
When Pauli mentioned Fox’s visual backtracking, he added:
“It’s been over 30 years; not many of us have had this disease in 30 years.”
“It sucks having Parkinson’s disease.”
However, Fox admitted:
“For some families, it’s a nightmare. It’s a living hell.”
“They have to deal with facts that are beyond most people’s understanding.”
“My life is set up so that I can pack my Parkinson’s disease with me if I have to.”
he added:
“I know how hard this is for people, and I know how hard it is for me, but I have a certain set of skills that allow me to deal with these things.”
“And I gratefully recognize that optimism is sustainable.”
“If you can find something to be grateful for, then you can find something to look forward to, and keep going.”
You can watch the interview below.
Youtube
Viewers of the interview praised Fox for his willingness and courage to speak up for and educate others.
Several added that his forward-looking outlook was an inspiration.
Fox, now 61, documented his life with Parkinson’s in Still: A Michael J. Fox Filmwhich will be available on Apple TV+ on May 12.
When asked about the significance of the title, Fox replied:
“I can never be still, so I can never be still.”
“Still has other meanings. Still here. Still committed.”
“And I’ll take them all!”