The 63-year-old actor was diagnosed with the disease – which causes uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination – in 1991 and when asked about how he copes, he admitted he has a dark sense of humour that can be “hard” to maintain.
He told People: “It’s hard for me. But I gotta keep it intact.”
In the years since his diagnosis, the ‘Back to the Future’ star has established the Michael J. Fox Foundation – which is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s and has gone on to fund $2 billion worth of research – and upon its annual gala, stars such as Stevie Nicks arrived to show their support.
He said: “I can’t believe – a lot of these people I’ve known for years and years – they’re so kind to me.
“I think because they see an opportunity for a win, for a big advancement, and that’s what we’re working toward.”
The former ‘Family Ties’ star – who married Tracy Pollan in 1989 and went on to have Sam, 35, twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, 25, as well as Esmé, 23, with her – recently admitted that his “biggest goal” in life was to have a family and that he is open to the idea of acting but is more focussed on his campaign work.
He told ‘Entertainment Tonight’: “My biggest goal, I think, was to raise a family. We have four amazing kids and that’s been the big thing. And then the other is with the foundation. If someone offers me a part and I do it and I have a good time, great.”
