Michael J Fox calls Parkinson's diagnosis 'gift that keeps on taking'

During his appearance on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Michael J Fox referred to his Parkinson's diagnosis as a "gift that constantly takes away".

Michael J. Fox, who starred in the movie Back To The Future, was diagnosed with a condition that worsens over time when he was only 29 years old, in the year of 1991. However, he did not reveal this publicly until seven years after his diagnosis.

The year was 2023 when the celebrity unveiled a documentary about his life and how he coped with the grievous illness. His work received recognition and he was nominated for a BAFTA award. The documentary was made available on Apple TV+.

In an interview with the BBC, Michael expressed his thoughts on the documentary being nominated for an award. He mentioned that it is indeed a great privilege, and he considers it as a gift. Despite the challenges that come along with it, Michael still sees it as a valuable and continuous blessing.

After Michael received his diagnosis, he was greatly admired for his ongoing efforts in raising funds that would support Parkinson's research in hopes of discovering a cure. He established The Michael J. Fox Foundation to assist with these research endeavors.

On Tuesday, Michael J Fox, famous for his role in Back To The Future, talked about his Parkinson's disease on BBC Breakfast. He referred to the illness as a constant burden, which keeps taking away from him.

The celebrity produced a documentary about his life in movies and his diagnosis that got released on Apple TV+ in 2023. Due to its outstanding contribution, the documentary received a nomination for BAFTA, as seen in the picture.

Michael expressed that he came to the realization that he needed to change the situation into a positive experience that would have a positive impact on the people around him.

I believe that's the reason I initiated the establishment, although it took me quite a while to reach that realization.

Michael takes a trip down memory lane with director Davis Guggenheim in his documentary that came out in May 2023. During the documentary, he opens up about the time he first realized he may have Parkinson's disease. This was a major turning point in his successful career.

He talked about his experience fighting a relentless disease, describing it as when an infinitely hopeful person confronts an unbeatable affliction. This would be the focus of the documentary he discussed.

"He said that he has Parkinson's and it's difficult for him to deal with. He finds it frustrating and sometimes even more than that. For some people, it can be overwhelming."

In 1991, during the filming of the movie Doc Hollywood, Michael began showing signs of Parkinson's disease at an early age. Professionals in the medical field informed him that he would soon be unable to continue working.

Michael struggled with excessive drinking and depression following his diagnosis, but with help, he eventually overcame these difficulties. In 1998, he made the brave decision to share his condition with the public.

Michael's reason for keeping his Parkinson's a secret for several years was due to his uncertainty about how it would affect him and the symptoms that would arise.

When Michael was 29 years old in 1991, he found out that he had a degenerative disorder. However, he did not reveal this information to the public until seven years later, when he was 62 years old.

In May, a documentary was released about Michael's struggle for 30 years with Parkinson's disease. The documentary is called Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie and it has gained him a BAFTA nomination.

'I had no idea what to anticipate, and nobody could provide me with a clear rundown.'

In the 2023 Spring Moving Image Awards, Michael was awarded the Lifetime Achievement prize for his noteworthy Hollywood profession and his commitment to discovering a remedy for Parkinson's.

In his film, Michael shared about the heartbreaking instance when he told his spouse of 35 years, Tracy, about his diagnosis. He recounted how Tracy promised to stand by him every step of the journey.

Michael, who kept acting for an extended period, remembered: "I informed Tracy of the recent development. I recall her softly whispering the vow 'in sickness and in health.'"

He stated that nobody other than his family was aware of his medical condition and he consumed medication to conceal his symptoms.

The performer didn't clarify whether he used recreational or prescribed drugs for self-medication.

The footage from behind the scenes shows him avoiding explosions, gunfire, and unmanned vehicles as he races through the desert in a scene from Mars Attacks, a dark science fiction comedy directed by Tim Burton. This was filmed before he made his diagnosis announcement.

Michael shared the heartbreaking experience when he informed his wife Tracy of his diagnosis. They have been married for 35 years and Tracy promised to stick by his side through everything. (Photo shown is from November).

The preview started with Michael uttering, 'My tale. Attempt number two.'

The blog talks about a recently taken video that appears to show backstage scenes where the actor prepares to shoot an important scene alongside Christopher Lloyd in the movie Back To The Future. The video cleverly blends in with a scene from the original movie.

At the beginning, Michael responds to a query from Guggenheim in order to elucidate the name of the movie.

The question posed by the director, who has experience directing several TV episodes and documentaries such as An Inconvenient Truth and Waiting for Superman, is: What is the definition of being still?

"I have no idea, I was constantly moving," answered Michael.