Michael J. Fox Gives Heartbreaking Parkinson’s Update

Michael J. Fox is opening up about the increasingly difficult reality of living with Parkinson’s disease — while revealing why he believes scientists may finally be closing in on major breakthroughs.

The beloved “Back to the Future” star, 65, admitted his condition has become tougher to manage as the years have passed, but he remains determined to keep fighting for himself and millions of others living with the disease.

“Of course, things have gotten harder over the years,” Fox told PEOPLE.

Despite dealing with tremors, balance problems and other symptoms, the actor said he considers himself fortunate to be able to devote his time and energy to helping researchers search for a cure.

“I’m privileged to commit my time and energy to bringing everything I’ve got to help cure this disease,” he said.

Fox’s decades-long campaign against Parkinson’s is now being recognized with one of the scientific world’s most prestigious honors.

The Lasker Foundation is awarding him the Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award for his advocacy and his work through the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which has poured more than $3 billion into Parkinson’s research since Fox created it in 2000.

The annual Lasker Awards are sometimes referred to as “America’s Nobels.” Previous honorees have included Bill and Melinda Gates, Dr. Anthony Fauci and late “Superman” star Christopher Reeve.

Fox said receiving the honor was particularly meaningful.

“Lasker winners show the world what science can achieve when we keep our eyes on the prize,” he said. “To be included in that company is humbling.”

He said the award also belongs to researchers, doctors, patients and families who have spent years pushing toward better treatments and ultimately a cure.

The Lasker Foundation praised Fox and his organization for helping eliminate the stigma surrounding Parkinson’s while transforming the way research into the disease is funded and conducted.

Fox first began experiencing symptoms in 1990 when he was just 29 years old. He eventually made his diagnosis public and became one of the most recognizable advocates for Parkinson’s patients in the world.

Fox said he understood early on that his celebrity could help bring much-needed attention to the cause.

“My name could attract attention to help us achieve our goals faster,” he said. “But I also have this disease. I know the issues and I share my community’s sense of urgency.”

That urgency has remained at the center of Fox’s life even as he recently made an unexpected return to acting.

The five-time Emmy winner and four-time Golden Globe winner appeared in Season 3 of Apple TV’s “Shrinking,” marking another comeback after previously stepping away from Hollywood.

Fox plays a character with Parkinson’s alongside Harrison Ford, whose character is also battling the disease.

Fox described the experience as “insanely fun.”

“This new character allows me to show up on set as myself,” he said.

Fox even reunited with Ford to film a new campaign for his foundation.

His return to acting was particularly meaningful because Fox once feared Parkinson’s had permanently taken that part of his life away.

He first retired from full-time acting in 2000 when he left his Emmy-winning role on “Spin City” after publicly revealing his diagnosis.

He later returned for guest appearances on shows including “Scrubs” and “The Good Wife,” but stepped back again in 2020 when another troubling symptom emerged.

“My ability to memorize lines,” Fox said, had become a new challenge.

“There’s a time for everything, and the time for 12-hour workdays was behind me.”

“Shrinking,” created by Fox’s longtime friend Bill Lawrence, offered him a much more flexible opportunity.

Fox said the role allows him to “use how I feel on any given day and channel it into the scene.”

The performance earned him another Emmy nomination, and Fox has said he would be interested in returning for the show’s fourth season.

But Hollywood remains secondary to the mission that has dominated much of his life.

Fox’s foundation is now preparing another massive fundraising effort with the goal of bringing in an additional $2.5 billion for Parkinson’s research.

And despite the enormous challenges involved, Fox believes scientists are making real progress.

“The Foundation’s work is about driving toward a world without Parkinson’s,” he said. “We don’t know exactly when it’ll happen, but it will happen.”

Fox acknowledged that medical research can be slow and extraordinarily expensive, but said advances are coming faster.

“Science is hard. It’s astronomically expensive. It takes time and collaboration,” he said. “But as long as we stay focused, we stay hopeful, we’ll get there.”

Then came his most encouraging update.

“The science is showing we’re getting close.”

Fox pointed to increasing research breakthroughs, new medications helping Parkinson’s patients live better lives and improved tools allowing scientists to move faster.

“It’s heartening progress,” he said. “And we’re going to stay on it till the job is done.”