Michael J. Fox opened up about the lasting impact his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis has had on his wife, Tracy Pollan, describing his decision to publicly reveal the condition as especially difficult for her.
Diagnosed at 29, the actor initially kept his illness private before becoming one of the world’s most recognizable advocates for Parkinson’s awareness and research.
More than three decades later, Michael J. Fox continues to reflect on the challenges of living with the disease and the mindset that has helped him remain hopeful.
Michael J. Fox Reveals The Emotional Toll His Parkinson’s Diagnosis Took On Tracy Pollan
Michael J. Fox got candid about the profound impact his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis had on his wife, Tracy Pollan, describing his decision to publicly reveal the condition as “hell” for her.
The award-winning actor was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at just 29 years old, only three years after marrying Pollan. Although he received the diagnosis in 1991, he kept it private for several years before publicly disclosing it in 1998. Reflecting on that period, Fox acknowledged the emotional toll it took on his wife.
“It was hell on Tracy,” he said in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “It was really hard on her — and it still is because it’s always changing.”
Fox explained that his choice to go public stemmed from a desire to use his visibility to help others facing the disease. He wanted to remove stigma, encourage optimism, and draw attention to the challenges experienced by people without the resources and support he had.
“I have to go all the way here. No half measures,” Fox recalled telling his wife. “I needed to normalize it and just be that all the time. I said, ‘I have to not hide this. [Expletive] vanity.”
The Actor Says Parkinson’s Advocacy Is About ‘Humanity,’ Not Just Science
Since revealing his diagnosis, Fox has become one of the world’s most prominent advocates for Parkinson’s research.
Through the foundation he launched in 2000, he has helped drive billions of dollars toward scientific research and treatment development. For the 65-year-old, however, the mission has always been about more than funding breakthroughs.
“We have to find a way to get through every day,” he said, per Hello! Magazine. “And if we can find a way to get through every day and at the same time be fueling for our actions and our deeds and our philanthropy, then that’s a great thing.”
He added: “It’s individually elevating lives. So it’s not just the money, it’s not just the science — it’s the humanity.”
Fox and Pollan’s relationship began in the mid-1980s after meeting on the sitcom “Family Ties.”
Although both were involved in other relationships at the time, they later reconnected while working together on the film “Bright Lights, Big City.”
After several months of dating, they married in Vermont on July 16, 1988, and have since raised four children together: son Sam, 37, twin daughters, Aquinnah and Schuyler, 31, and Esmé, 24.
Michael J. Fox Says Tracy Pollan Never Considered Leaving Despite Parkinson’s Challenges
Over the years, Fox has repeatedly credited Pollan’s unwavering support as a cornerstone of his ability to navigate life with Parkinson’s.
In a 2023 interview, he said he would have understood if the demands of his illness had led her to “step out” of their marriage, but she never considered it.
“At any time, she would have been forgiven to say, ‘I just want to step out,’ but she didn’t do that,” he said.
The actor continued, “I love Tracy obviously, and she’s an amazing person and has gone through a lot. I realize she has a life separate from me having Parkinson’s, from me being Alex Keaton or Marty McFly; she’s a person. I think that’s why it’s gone okay.”
The Actor Does Not ‘Fear Death’
Now more than three decades after his diagnosis, Fox says he has come to terms with life’s uncertainties.
While acknowledging the progressive nature of Parkinson’s disease, he has spoken candidly about mortality, saying he no longer fears death and instead focuses on making the most of the time he has.
“One day I’ll run out of gas,” he told Town & Country. “One day I’ll just say, ‘It’s not going to happen. I’m not going out today.’ If that comes, I’ll allow myself that.”
Fox added, “Certainly, if I were to pass away tomorrow, it would be premature, but it wouldn’t be unheard of. And so, no, I don’t fear [death].”
Michael J. Fox Credits Wife Tracy Pollan For Helping Him Face Parkinson’s With Hope
Fox has long used his platform to raise awareness and advocate for greater investment in research. He even appeared before the U.S. Senate to highlight the urgent need for progress in understanding and treating the condition. In 2023, his life and journey were chronicled in the Apple TV+ documentary “Still,” directed by Davis Guggenheim.
During the film’s promotion, Fox reflected on the mindset that has helped him navigate life with the disease, sharing a personal belief that “gratitude fuels optimism.”
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, he explained, “It somehow came in my head. Everyone asks me, ‘How can you be optimistic?’ I can be optimistic as long as I’m grateful. And I can be grateful if I really think about it because I wouldn’t have had the rest of my life if it weren’t for so many things that Tracy, chief among them, came in and intervened in.”
Fox added that even on challenging days, focusing on a single reason to be thankful helps him maintain a positive outlook and continue moving forward with hope.