Michael J. Fox has long symbolized resilience in the face of adversity. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at age 29, Fox kept the condition private for years and only publicly disclosed it in 1998. Over time he has embraced his role not just as an actor, but as a figure of advocacy, founding the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000, which has raised more than $2 billion toward Parkinson’s research. Despite increasing physical limitations, he has continued to speak openly about how the disease reshapes his life, facing each day’s challenges with determination.
In recent interviews, Fox described how he now begins each day with a message—an intuitive sense of how the day will unfold—then adapts to what comes. “I keep getting new challenges physically, and I get through it,” he told People, noting that wheelchair use is now part of his everyday reality. His reflections underscore both the emotional and physical toll of Parkinson’s, as well as his resolve to lean into what he still can do rather than focus on what is lost.
Parallel to managing his health, Fox is channeling his energy into creative and literary projects. A major development is his forthcoming memoir Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space‑Time Continuum, which is due to release October 14, 2025. He co‑wrote it with Nelle Fortenberry and plans a deeply immersive audiobook version, narrated by Fox himself, including behind‑the‑scenes interviews and musical elements from the Back to the Future films. The book revisits 1985, a pivotal year when he balanced shooting Family Ties during the day and filming Back to the Future at night, giving readers insight into the intense creative and physical demands behind that period.
In Future Boy, Fox also candidly recalls how exhausted he became, to the point that he has no memory of the final filming day of Back to the Future. The memoir is praised for offering an honest, detailed look at the professional and personal pressures he faced. Meanwhile, he continues to engage in smaller on‑screen roles. For example, he returned in Shrinking (Apple TV+), where he portrays a character living with Parkinson’s—giving him a chance to draw from lived experience in his performance.
Beyond his career and health, Fox’s personal life remains a source of strength. In a recent People interview, he called his wife Tracy Pollan—his partner of 37 years—his “best friend,” and described her as the first and last person he turns to each day. As he navigates the evolving impact of Parkinson’s, Fox often reflects on mortality. In earlier interviews, he has spoken about not expecting to live to 80, acknowledging that while Parkinson’s is not fatal in itself, its complications (falls, aspiration pneumonia, etc.) can be. Yet, through it all, Fox emphasizes purpose, creativity, family, and advocacy as his anchors. He continues to inspire many through his openness, his work, and his refusal to let the disease define or silence him.
