In 1991, at just 29 years old, Fox received life-altering news: he had Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder. The diagnosis forced him to confront an uncertain future while still at the height of his career. For several years, he continued acting while keeping his condition private, determined not to let the illness define him.
By the late 1990s, Fox chose to step back from full-time acting to focus on his health and family. In 1998, he publicly revealed his diagnosis, helping break stigma around Parkinson’s. Two years later, he founded the Michael J.
Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which has since become one of the world’s leading organizations funding research and advancing treatments.Throughout his journey, Fox has remained candid, resilient, and hopeful.
His memoir Lucky Man offered an honest look at living with the disease while maintaining optimism and humor. Today, though his acting appearances are more limited, his influence is profound. Through advocacy and perseverance, Michael J. Fox has inspired millions, proving that purpose, courage, and hope can endure even in the face of serious illness.