Michael J. Fox’s battle with Parkinson’s has been going on since the 90s. The actor is a strong activist and someone who has been fighting to have more research done into the disease to help advance therapies and cures for it.
But it was not his work against Parkinson’s that earned him an award this time, but his work in movies. He received a lifetime achievement award. And at the ceremony, things got a little emotional. Keep reading to learn more.
The 61-year-old Back to the Future actor walked the red carpet for Spring Moving Image Awards in New York City. His wife Tracy Pollan, 62, and 28-year-old twin daughters Aquinnah Kathleen Fox and Schuyler Frances Fox accompanied him on the carpet for the awards ceremony.
The director and producer for “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” Davis Guggenheim, also joined him for the event.
The event recognized acclaimed actors and artists, and recognized Michael J. Fox, Director Martin Scorsese was asked to say a few words. The famed director called Fox a ‘powerhouse’ and said several heartwarming words about him.
“He was made for movies,” Scorsese said, reflecting on the actor’s rise in Hollywood. He added, “He has a great genius comedy.”
“What I want to point out though, for me, was extraordinarily impressive was the dramatic films and the intensity of his work in ‘Light of Day,’ ‘Bright Lights and Big City,'” Scorsese noted.
Scorsese also mentioned all the work Michael J. Fox does for Parkinson’s and raising awareness about it. He mentioned how much the work and advocacy personally meant to him and his wife Helen. His wife, Helen, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1990.
“If you look at Michael’s filmography, pay attention to the amount of work he’s done since his Parkinson’s diagnosis,” said Scorsese. “Along the way, Michael not only started his foundation — which has raised so much money for research and raised just as much awareness — but also became a guiding light for so many others with Parkinson’s. That includes my wife Helen — and Michael, your support has meant the world to her and to me,” the acclaimed director said.
Fox himself was only 29 years old when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991. The National Institutes of Health website says that the disease is “a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.”
“Symptoms usually begin gradually and worsen over time,” the agency states. “As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking. They may also have mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue,” the website explains.
While most people experience Parkinson’s later in life after 60 years old, about 5% to 10% “experience onset before the age of 50,” the NIH explains.
Fox has been incredibly open about his journey with Parkinson’s, and his latest film Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie shows his journey with the disease so far. Fox’s wife and his family have been incredibly supportive of him in his journey. Even at this event, his daughters stood by their dad, literally supporting him as they walked the red carpet! What a wonderful family they have.
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The actor is so incredibly inspiring with his life story that details how he has been able to overcome so much and still stay positive. Share this piece with other fans of the actor so they can learn more about him and his achievements.
