Michael J Fox facing 'lots of physical challenges' in new health update amid Parkinson's battle: 'Tough year'

Michael J Fox facing 'lots of physical challenges' in new health update amid Parkinson's battle: 'Tough year'

WATCH HERE: Michael J. Fox receives a standing ovation at the 2024 BAFTAs

BBC
Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 03/04/2024

- 12:01

The 62-year-old actor has been living with the illness for more than three decades

Michael J Fox has candidly opened up about the "tough year" he's experienced over the past 12 months after enduring a jam-packed work diary.

In 2023, Fox helmed a documentary about his life titled Still: A Michael J Fox Movie and spent much of the year touring the globe and appearing on talk show after talk show to promote the movie.


Fox took all of this on while still working hard and heroically raising money as part of the Michael J Fox Foundation to fund Parkinson's research.

He even made a surprise appearance at this year's Baftas where he received a heart-warming standing ovation from some of the world's best-known movie stars.

On Tuesday, Fox and his wife Tracy Pollan were back on fundraising and awareness-raising duties as they attended the Michael J Fox Foundation’s Country Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson's event in Nashville.

And in true Fox fashion, the Back to the Future and Stuart Little star did his best to stay upbeat and full of optimism for the year ahead.

Michael J Fox and his wife

Michael J Fox and his wife at the Nashville event on Tuesday

GETTY

"My daughter's getting married... good things are happening, and life is good," he said at the event. "And so it's been a good year, for sure."

However, Fox's optimism and upbeat approach to life has been marred over the past year as he caveated: "There's been a lot of challenges."

He went on to People: "A lot of physical challenges these days have been different bits, but just that I had a lot of stuff … I had a movie, a documentary and a lot of obligations.

"A lot of things have been a lot of effort … And so it was a tough year, but a good year, in each of the challenges (that) came up."

Michael J Fox

Michael J Fox made a surprise appearance at February's Baftas

GETTY

But despite facing the "challenges", Fox has soldiered on and his resilience has shone through, although he credited his loved ones for helping him in being able to do so.

He told the publication: "With the help of family, with the help of people that I work with, I've been able to meet those challenges and go beyond them and do new things.

"And the whole thing is just keep having new experiences, whether it's experiences that push forward, what we're trying to do and our mission with foundation."

Fox also spoke to Entertainment Tonight where he addressed the standing ovation he received at February's Bafta Awards in London.

Michael J Fox

Michael J Fox has shared a new update about his health

GETTY

He told ET: "I love it and I appreciate it, but I take it more as recognition of determination and resolve to solve the big problem, and that we all have the power to do whatever it is we can do to move things along.

"I think people are just saying, 'Thanks for hanging in there and going after this.' And I appreciate that."

The event was held to kick off Parkinson's Awareness Month and was attended by big names including Jason Isbell, Sheryl Crow and the group Little Big Town.

On the Michael J Fox Foundation's official Instagram page, fans got to take a sneak peek inside the star-studded event held at Belmont University.

Nashville native Isbell delivered a heartfelt message praising the foundation for all of its work across the globe while the foundation itself admitted it was "so grateful" to see the stars join Fox at the event.

Later in the evening, Little Big Town took to the stage to perform for attendees.

You may like