"Life keeps throwing curveballs, but I’m still swinging." That’s how Michael J. Fox describes his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s disease—a fight he’s been facing since 1991, and publicly acknowledging since 1998. The beloved actor, best known for his iconic role in Back to the Future, recently opened up about how he continues to adapt to the daily physical challenges the condition brings. And here’s the part most people miss: Fox isn’t just surviving; he’s actively reshaping his life to keep thriving.
In his heartfelt conversation with People, Fox shared that every morning starts with taking stock of what his body will allow that day. “I wake up and get the message of what the day’s going to be like, and I try to adjust to it,” he explained. While he admits that new physical complications keep appearing, his determination to roll with them—sometimes literally, as he now uses a wheelchair frequently—remains intact. His philosophy? “You take the good, and you seize it.”
At 64, he refuses to slow down. On October 14, 2025, Fox will release his latest book, Future Boy, co-written with longtime collaborator Nelle Fortenberry. Though he retired from acting in 2020, his creative energy hasn’t faded; he’s currently recording the audiobook version while continuing to lead the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the organization he launched in 2000. This work has become a cornerstone of his post-acting career, raising millions toward the search for a cure.
Fox also admits that seeing the work of others in film and literature often sparks the thought that maybe he’s not finished as an artist. “I might still find something that’s for me—whether as an actor, a writer, or just as a person. As a parent, husband, and friend, there’s still so much I want to do,” he says.
His love for connecting with fans continues. Attending Back to the Future conventions rekindled memories and inspired parts of Future Boy. Fans want insider stories, and Fox says he aimed to truly satisfy that curiosity with honest accounts of his experience making the cult classic.
Away from the spotlight, Fox enjoys memorable moments with family. In August 2025, he was spotted in Amagansett, New York, alongside his only son, Sam, 36, at SiriusXM’s launch party for the "Maximum Metallica" channel. After the event, they watched the legendary rock band perform multiple greatest hits—a raucous outing that showed Fox’s still-adventurous spirit.
Michael and his wife of more than 30 years, Tracy Pollan, share four children: twins Aquinnah Kathleen and Schuyler Frances, 30, Sam, and their youngest, Esmé Annabelle, 23. Fox fondly recalls simple family traditions, like all six of them crowding into bed with popcorn to watch TV, laughing and sharing affection without reservation.
Here’s where it gets controversial: despite decades of living with Parkinson’s, Fox chooses not to dwell on what he has lost—but rather on what he can still give. Does this mindset truly make living with such a disease easier, or is it an unrealistic expectation for most? He believes his children have adapted beautifully to his reality. But is resilience something you’re born with, or can anyone learn to respond like this when life delivers a serious diagnosis?
What do you think—does Fox’s approach inspire hope, or does it set an impossibly high bar for others battling chronic illness? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
