I have been a loyal fan of Michael J. Fox since he first made me laugh out loud as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties in the 1980s.
He seemed approachable and makes you feel like you know him; after all, he is in your living room or as large as life in iconic roles on the big screen.
My son and I are giant fans of the Back to the Future trilogy and watched each one enough to memorize the dialogue. My favorite is “Back to the Future Part Two,” where they travel to 2015 (now back to the past), because of all the “modern” technology, like multi-channel TVs, hoverboards, self-lacing shoes, and flying cars.
Like many fans, I was shocked when he announced in 1998 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
“What? That can’t be right. That’s an old person’s disease.”
I thought if it was taking me a while to wrap my head around his diagnosis at such a young age, imagine how he must feel.
At the time, he was on a TV show called “Spin City,” which I faithfully watched, and he seemed as energetic, healthy, funny, and relatable as always. In truth, he had been living with the disease for the prior seven years since, since 1991 at the age of 29.
He had years to accept his diagnosis before his public announcement, so while his fans were grieving for him, he had already moved on mentally. He is quoted as saying, “You are only as sick as your secrets.” He especially didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him.
At age 36, the tremors, stiffness, coordination, and balance issues were making hiding his illness nearly impossible. He was forced to reveal his diagnosis and focus more on his health for himself and his family. While this could have easily derailed his career and spirit, he chose to face it head on with his trademark humor and optimism.
Humor
Even with his diagnosis, and the now public awareness, Michael made guest appearances on various shows like “The Good Wife”, “Boston Legal”, and “Rescue Me” which he received an Emmy in 2009. He played roles as someone with Parkinson’s since he could not longer hide his symptoms and his appearances made many more aware and understand more about the disease.
Michael has a way of making fun of himself that allows you to laugh along, yet learn and appreciate his struggles all the more. He does this not that you will have empathy for him, but to be inspired not only for him but for yourself. Maybe your life isn’t so bad after all.
Resilience/Courage. His new documentary/bio, “Still, A Michael J. Fox Movie” on Apple TV tells of a tough beginning where he ate a packet of IHOP jelly for his snacks; money was tight. He was down to just one section of his living room sectional. The Family Ties audition was literally his last chance of making it. Brandon Tartikoff (NBC President) was not sold on him for the role. He stated that, “he couldn’t see Fox on marketing materials or lunchboxes, such as David Cassidy or Donny Osmond.
On set when filming the pilot, Michael ad libed a middle initial while answering a call. “Alex P. Keaton here”, the audience erupted in laughter. He kept them laughing till the end. Eventually Tartikoff relented, and a while later, Micheal sent him an autographed lunchbox with his image. . He had made it! A proper meal was in his future.
During a filming break, he was told that Stephen Spielberg was willing to wait for him to begin shooting Back to the Future for the role of Marty McFly. He worked on Family Ties in the daytime and Back to the Future at night, often with less than three hours sleep. With the massive popularity of the show and now movie, Michael was a household name.
He admitted his ego became a little inflated; that is when he met his wife Tracy, whom he has been married to for thirty-five years. She didn’t treat him like a celebrity and continues to keep him grounded. They share a beautiful family, four children, including a set of twin girls.
Throughout the documentary, his signature humor is still evident but stronger still is his courage to keep going, against the odds. He has had numerous falls, a symptom of the disease that required pins in his face and numerous surgeries yet he is still doing physical therapy and as active as physically posible.
He had the world by the tail when he first noticed an uncontrollable tremor in his hand at a hotel in Florida. At first he thought it was from too much drinking with Woody Harrleson the night before, but the symptoms get better.
When he was first diagnosed, he tried to drink the thought of it away, accepted movies in other countries to try to escape and go where no one knew him, but also far away from his young son and wife, with twins on the way.
Now, he has become an activist for Parkinson’s and hasn’t had a drink in 30 years. In my estimation, he is to be admired, as is his wife, who truly stood by him in “sickness and in health” and through the times when he no longer wanted to be in his own skin.
Hope
So, long ago, I admired him for being such a talented actor and comedian; now being an inspiration he is that and so much more. Truly an inspiration for not giving up or letting something outside your control take you out. He’s kept fighting and kept inspiring hope.
He still makes me laugh despite all that he has gone through for so many years starting at such a young age.
I was truly moved and inspired by this documentary and remembered why I became so fond of Michael J. Fox so many years ago. He is truly a remarkable human.
I wanted to share a few of the highlights and my insights with you. Now I think I will go an make a donation to the foundation.
Thanks for reading!
Keep smiling! (Perhaps you can watch a Michael J. Fox movie this week.)
xx
