Michael J. Fox continues to face Parkinson’s disease with courage and humor—but he says his real strength comes from home. Surrounded by his wife and four children, the beloved actor recently shared how his family’s love remains his “superpower” as he lives with the degenerative disease he was diagnosed with at just 29 years old.
The 64-year-old star attended the “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s” event in New York City, where he reflected on the people who’ve stood by him through it all. “They’re so supportive and so great,” Fox told People magazine. “All these people are friends of mine, family, and it’s really great to see them, and I walk on the red carpet, surprised to see them, and I think, ‘Well, why should I be surprised?’”
“They’ve always been there for me, and they continue to be there for me year after year,” he added.
Fox and his wife, actress Tracy Pollan, married in 1988 and are parents to son Sam, 36, twin daughters Aquinnah and Schuyler, 30, and their youngest, Esmé, 24. Pollan said their children are “just incredibly supportive” of their dad. “Michael is so optimistic, which is wonderful and really helps him, but it’s really important to also understand that this is a huge challenge,” she told People. “It’s very difficult for the family, for the caregivers and, obviously, for the patient. So, it’s important to acknowledge that and acknowledge that it’s not just all sorts of easy. It’s not easy. It’s hard for them, but they show up, and they’re there for us.”
Pollan added, “Michael was diagnosed before the girls were born and very, very early in Sam’s life, so it’s kind of all they know. And they’re just incredibly supportive. They’re very helpful to me. I lean on them a lot.”
Fox’s journey with Parkinson’s began with a small tremor in his pinky finger while filming Doc Hollywood in 1991. Since then, his faith, family, and determination have carried him through a 35-year battle with the disease. He founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000, which has now raised more than $2.5 billion for research—the largest nonprofit of its kind in the world.
Despite his struggles, Fox has never lost his sense of gratitude. “There are not many people who have had Parkinson’s for 35 years,” he told The Times. “I’d like to just not wake up one day. That’d be really cool. I don’t want it to be dramatic. I don’t want to trip over furniture, smash my head.”
He admits his health has brought physical setbacks—broken bones, surgeries, and lost abilities—but he faces them with humility and humor. “I take it easy now,” Fox said. “I don’t walk that much anymore. I can walk, but it’s not pretty and it’s a bit dangerous. So I just roll that into my life, you know — no pun intended.”
For Fox, gratitude outweighs grief. Reflecting on his fans, he shared, “I wanted to express my gratitude to them. They’ve given me so much, my life is so amazing. The disease sucks, but … people don’t feel sorry for me. They see me as a positive force.”
Through his optimism and unwavering family support, Michael J. Fox continues to inspire millions—proving that faith, love, and perseverance can turn even life’s hardest battles into stories of hope.