MICHAEL J Fox made a surprise appearance on stage during the 2024 Baftas to present the final award of the night.
Given his battle with Parkinson’s disease, the 62-year-old is rarely seen at these huge awards shows or other events.
Who is Michael J Fox?
Michael Andrew Fox, known professionally as Michael J Fox, was born on June 9, 1961, in Edmonton, Canada.
He is an award-winning TV and film actor who got his big break aged 15 starring in the Canadian sitcom, Leo And Me.
You don’t die from Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s”
Michael J. Fox
Michael moved to LA and featured in the sitcom Family Ties for seven years in the 1980s, winning three consecutive Emmy Awards for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
He became a household name playing time-travelling teen, Marty McFly, in Back To The Future in 1985, releasing two more instalments in the series over the following five years.
Michael married actress Tracy Pollan in 1988.
They have four children together: son Sam Michael, twins Aquinnah Kathleen and Schuyler Frances, and Esme.
On February 18, 2024, Fox brought the audience at the Baftas to their feet for a standing ovation as he bravely stood from his wheelchair and gave a moving speech about the power of cinema.
Speaking on stage, he said: “Five films are nominated in this category tonight and all five have something in common — they’re the best at what we do.
“There’s a reason why they say movies are magic — because movies can change your day.“
They can change your outlook and sometimes can change your life.”
When was Michael diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease?
He was diagnosed with the onset of Parkinson’s – a long-term degenerative disorder of the nervous system – in 1991 aged 29 but kept his condition secret for seven years.
He was told by doctors at the time that he only had ten years left of work before his condition would have deteriorated too much.
Michael admitted in his 2002 memoir Lucky Man that he had been living in denial, but also that speaking out would destroy his acting career.
In 1996, he started acting in the political drama Spin City, winning an Emmy and three Golden Globes during the show’s run.
He went public with his illness in 1998 and quit the show in 2000, throwing himself into being a campaigner and activist for Parkinson’s research.
Fox retired from acting in 2020 due to his symptoms, and he confessed that life with Parkinson’s is “getting tougher every day”.
In an interview with CBS Sunday Mornings, he said: “I had spinal surgery. I had a tumour on my spine. And it was benign, but it messed up my walking. And then, started to break stuff.
“Broke this arm, and I broke this arm, I broke this elbow. I broke my face. I broke my hand. Which is a big killer with Parkinson’s.
“It’s falling and aspirating food and getting pneumonia. All these subtle ways that get you,” he explained.
“You don’t die from Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s. So I’ve been thinking about the mortality of it. I’m not gonna be 80. I’m not going to be 80,” he said.
WHAT IS PARKINSON’S DISEASE?
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, according to the NHS website.
What are the symptoms?
The NHS states that there are three major symptoms, including tremors or shaking, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness.
Other symptoms include problems with balance, loss of smell, nerve pain, excessive sweating and dizziness.
Lack of sleep, excessive production of saliva and problems swallowing, causing malnutrition and dehydration.
How many people are affected?
Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson’s disease in the UK, according to the charity Parkinson’s UK.
What movies and TV shows has Michael J Fox starred in?
Michael’s career began in the 1970s – but it was his starring role in Robert Zemeckis’ Back To The Future trilogy that turned him into a superstar.
In between the releases of the three films, he also starred in several popular 80s classics such as Teen Wolf (1985), Light of Day (1987), The Secret of My Success (1987), Bright Lights, Big City (1988), and Casualties Of War (1989).
His last major film role was in Peter Jackson’s The Frighteners in 1996.
On television, he played Alex P. Keaton on the American sitcom Family Ties for seven years between 1982 and 1989.
Michael also played Mike Flaherty on the ABC sitcom Spin City which ran between 1996 and 2000.
Fox also made several cameo and reoccurring appearances in the comedy Scrubs, four episodes of Boston Legal, and five episodes of Rescue Me.
He held a regular role in the US drama The Good Wife for three years and made a guest appearance as himself in Larry David’s post-Seinfield spin-off series, Curb Your Enthusiasm.
In 2021, he appeared in one episode of the TV series Expedition: Back To The Future and in the animated film Back Home Again.
In 2023, an Apple TV+ documentary was released that explored his career and life with Parkinson’s disease called Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.