Michael J. Fox says revealing his Parkinson’s diagnosis was difficult for wife Tracy Pollan but explains why he chose to speak publicly
Michael J. Fox has spoken about the personal impact of becoming one of the most visible public figures associated with Parkinson’s disease, including the effect it had on his wife, Tracy Pollan.
The actor, 65, told The Hollywood Reporter that sharing his diagnosis publicly was difficult for his family, particularly Pollan, but he felt it was important to be open about his experience.
“It was hell on Tracy, it was really hard on her — and it still is because it’s always changing,” Fox said. He explained that he told his wife he needed to fully commit to being open about his condition.
“I have to go all the way here. No half measures,” he recalled.
Fox was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at age 29 and revealed his diagnosis publicly in 1998. After going public, he established the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which has since supported billions of dollars in research funding.
He said his decision to share his diagnosis was influenced by seeing how many people with Parkinson’s did not have the same resources or opportunities he had.
“I needed to normalize it and just be that all the time,” Fox said. “I said, ‘I have to not hide this.’”
The actor also admitted that he initially struggled to understand why people reacted positively when he announced he had Parkinson’s.
“I thought, ‘Well, I have Parkinson’s and you’re celebrating,’” he said.
Over time, Fox said he understood that many people living with the disease had previously kept their experiences private, making his decision to speak openly significant for the Parkinson’s community.
Deborah W. Brooks, CEO of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, said Fox’s willingness to publicly live with Parkinson’s has helped change how people view the condition.
“There isn’t any other Parkinson’s patient who’s letting people see their lives 35 years into a Parkinson’s diagnosis,” Brooks said.
She added that research into Parkinson’s has also changed significantly since the foundation began funding studies, with more treatment programs now reaching human testing stages.
Fox later returned to acting after announcing his retirement during the COVID pandemic. He appeared on the series “Shrinking” as a character living with Parkinson’s, opposite Harrison Ford, whose character also has the disease.
The role earned Fox an Emmy nomination and marked the first time he played a character interacting on screen with another person with Parkinson’s.
Fox said Ford was supportive during the process, describing him as someone who helped him bring the role to life.
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