Rhianna Benson
Michael J Fox was just 29 when, in 1991, doctors diagnosed him with Parkinson's disease.
Speaking to the press this week, however, at the age of 65, the actor candidly discussed his 30-year battle with the incurable neurodegenerative disease, as well as the way he'd prefer to say his final goodbye.
For those in need of a reminder, Fox was at the height of his Hollywood success when he was dealt the brutal blow to his health, having recently completed his back-to-back hit performances in Robert Zemeckis' classic sci-fi trilogy Back to the Future.
At the time, the rising star has also recently wrapped up roles in coming-of-age comedy Teen Wolf, and hardcore party-drama Bright Lights, Big City, both of which earned him a place in VH1's list of the '50 Greatest Teen Idols', as well as five Emmys, four Golden Globes, two SAG Awards, and a Grammy.
Advert
In the years immediately after his diagnosis, however, the movie star took a step back from the spotlight, later telling readers of his 2002 memoir Lucky Man: "I was so scared. I was so unfamiliar with Parkinson’s. I only knew it as this thing that would end my working life and everything I loved doing."
Parkinson's describes a progressively worsening disorder that affects both the nervous system and the brain over time, affecting a person's mobility and their general cognitive abilities.
As we say, however, having been diagnosed with the life-changing condition over three decades ago, Fox, who is promoting his upcoming memoir, Future Boy, now admits he's had time to become well adjusted to his often sporadic symptoms.
He told The Sunday Times of the condition's unpredictable nature this week, explaining: "There’s no timeline, there’s no series of stages that you go through – not in the same way that you would, say, with prostate cancer.
"It’s much more mysterious and enigmatic."
During the candid conversation, the father-of-four, who shares one son and three daughters with Family Ties co-star wife Tracy Pollan, went on to discuss the eventuality that Parkinson's will end his life.
However, Fox admitted that his passing is something he's thought long and hard about.
"There are not many people who have had Parkinson’s for 35 years," he explained. "I’d like to just not wake up one day. That’d be really cool."
Discussing his mobility issues, the Spin City star added that he doesn't want them to contribute to his final few moments on earth.
"I don’t want it to be dramatic," Fox continued. "I don’t want to trip over furniture, smash my head."
Adding that he 'doesn't work much anymore', he went on to clarify: "I can walk, but it’s not pretty and it’s a bit dangerous. So I just roll that into my life, you know – no pun intended."