Back To The Future star Michael J Fox has shared a poignant reflection on his career, stating that acting "prolonged my life" following his Parkinson's diagnosis.
The Canadian-American actor, now 65, received his diagnosis of young-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991, a year after the release of Back To The Future Part III, where he famously played Marty McFly.
With Parkinson’s, the brain becomes progressively damaged over many years. Physical symptoms include involuntary shaking of body parts, otherwise known as a tremor, as well as a slowness of movement and other mobility issues.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Fox explained: "It’s really prolonged my life and made my life interesting in a way that I didn’t think it would be to this point.
"I’m not retired from acting, but if I didn’t act again, it would be for a very good reason. I let Parkinson’s make decisions for me."
The beloved actor also revealed he had to overcome "vanity" when disclosing the disease's effects, emphasising the need to "normalise it".
In a candid admission, Fox recounted anonymously joining online chat rooms for Parkinson’s patients to see their reactions to the celebrity – himself – who had recently gone public with his condition.
He said the responses would range from encouraged to ecstatic, and the actor explained: “I thought, ‘well, f*** you, I have Parkinson’s and you’re celebrating’.”
Fox first noticed a tremor in his little finger before his diagnosis at the age of 29 and the progressive neurological condition has severely affected his mobility.
He has suffered broken bones from numerous falls.
The actor has previously been open about how the disease affected his memory and made it difficult to remember dialogue in his acting roles.
Fox founded the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000, which has raised more than two billion dollars (£1.58 billion).
In 2023, he starred in the Apple+ documentary Still: A Michael J Fox Movie, exploring how Parkinson’s impacted his life.
As well as starring in the Back To The Future trilogy, Fox is known for films including Teen Wolf and Doc Hollywood along with the TV series Spin City.
While Fox initially announced his retirement from acting in 2020, he has since appeared in the third season of the Apple TV+ comedy drama, Shrinking, which stars Harrison Ford as Dr. Paul Rhoades, who is living with Parkinson's.
Read MoreDaniel Kaluuya to make movie comeback after years-long absence
Julie Andrews fans in uproar over Disney+ announcement
Jumanji child star on how Robin Williams defended him and Kirsten Dunst on set
Matt Damon reveals ‘middle-aged’ cast of The Odyssey all suffered same health issue
Tom Holland sets himself huge challenge for Fred Astaire biopic: ‘So much work to do’
Elon Musk vows Grok will make ‘historically accurate’ AI version of The Odyssey
