Despite recent rumors to the contrary, Michael J. Fox is very much alive.
On Wednesday, April 8, CNN shared an article titled, “Remembering the Life of Actor Michael J. Fox.” The way the headline was worded immediately had people thinking that the Back to the Future star, 64, had died. However, his rep confirmed to TMZ that fans can breathe easy.
“Michael is doing great,” Fox’s representative told the outlet. “He was at PaleyFest yesterday. He was on stage and was giving interviews.”
The Family Ties alum was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at just 29-years-old in 1991. Since then, he’s been an advocate for research of the disease.The article has since been removed from the site. A CNN spokesperson tells Globe, “The package was published in error; we have removed it from our platforms and send our apologies to Michael J. Fox and his family.”
Fox thrilled the cast of season 3 of Shrinking when he made a surprise appearance at the wrap party on Tuesday, April 7.
Bill Lawrence, the co-creator of the Apple series, was at the event with fellow co-creator and star Jason Segel. Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Luke Tennie, Christa Miller, Lukita Maxwell and Ted McGinley, who also appear in season 3, alongside Fox, were also in attendance.
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Michael J. Fox reacts to tribute video that sparked fear he had died: ‘WTF?’
The “Back to the Future” star has struggled with Parkinson’s disease for 35 years.
No need to panic, Michael J. Fox fans.
The 64-year-old actor, who’s best known for starring in the Back to the Future movies and on the TV series Family Ties and Spin City, has not died, despite the publication of a video titled “Remembering the life of actor Michael J. Fox” on CNN and the sites where its content is distributed.
A spokesperson for the network told Entertainment Weekly, “The package was published in error; we have removed it from our platforms and send our apologies to Michael J. Fox and his family.”
Within hours, Fox responded: “How do you react when you turn on the TV and CNN is reporting your death? Do you…A) Switch to MSNBC, or whatever they are calling themselves these days, (B) Pour scalding hot water on your lap, if it hurts you’re fine, (C) Call your wife, hopefully she’s concerned but reassuring, (D) Relax, they do this once every year, (E) Ask yourself wtf? I thought the world was ending, but apparently it’s just me and I’m ok. Love, Mike”
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The video in question showed viewers clips of Fox’s work over the years, as well as interview excerpts.
“He came into our living rooms on the small screen each week as Alex P. Keaton [on Family Ties] and eventually onto the big screen as Marty McFly in [Back to the Future],” the narrator said. “But Michael J. Fox had a compelling third act as Parkinson’s sufferer and stem cell research advocate.”
It noted that Fox left Spin City in 2000 after his symptoms began to affect his work. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 and went public with it in 1998.
“His most lasting role may have been as a tireless voice against Parkinson’s, a performance the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2022,” the video continued. “In the end, Fox came to understand that his battle against the disease brought out the best in him.”
Fans who had watched the video were naturally unhappy with what they had seen.
“This hit hard,” one commenter wrote. “My husband is a couple of years younger than MJF and got early onset PD at 33. this was a gasp as we are also Gen-Xers and support MJF and his foundation.”Follow
Alongside “Shrinking,” he has also acted in “The Good Fight” and bagged some voice roles, a testament to his ability to survive under pressure. As stated by The Blast, Fox revealed that he often sets high standards for himself and faces challenges that may seem impossible, which has become a talent.
The Cleveland Clinic explained that Parkinson’s disease is a progressive condition that affects movement, starting with tremors, stiffness, or slowness due to brain cells that make dopamine stop working as time goes on
While Fox admitted to experiencing all of these, he shared that he continued to go through life with humor, although maintaining a sense of humor on the darker side does not come easily. The actor emphasized the importance of dark humor and how valuable it is to help navigate around taboos and unravel barriers.
He noted at another annual edition of the Michael J. Fox Foundation annual gala that cracking those dark jokes often makes everything easier and makes difficult conversations more approachable. The 2024 edition of the gala generated $116 million to support research for Parkinson’s disease.
Inside The Emmy Award Winner’s Journey With Parkinson’s Disease
It all began in 1991, when the 29-year-old Fox noticed a tremor in his pinky finger on the set of “Doc Hollywood.” He decided to follow up with a visit to a neurologist, who was then diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Still, he kept his condition very private and continued working on several movie projects.
As his illness advanced, his family also advanced as he and his wife, Tracy Pollan, welcomed twin daughters Aquinnah and Schuyler. The Blast noted that he was also starring as Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty on ABC’s “Spin City.”
His iconic role brought several awards to his shelf, including an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He eventually went public about his diagnosis and retired after completing one more season of the show to focus on advancing a worthy cause for the treatment of the disease.
Michael J. Fox Has Found Purpose For Life In His Condition
The 64-year-old has come to a place of complete acceptance with his disease, now referring to it as a gift, which has left him in awe of seeing his life unfold after sacrificing so much of it to find a lasting cure.
He noted that despite the very demanding and daunting nature of Parkinson’s, he is thrilled to be living a life of service from his experience. Resilience has been a staple in Fox’s life for as long as he could remember, even as a child who experienced poverty and had to resort to unhealthy measures to get food as a teenager.
Fox recalled his family struggling to pay the bills and living from paycheck to paycheck, while he would check out dumpsters for food. He found solace in the school plays, discovered he was good at it, and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a full-time acting career. By 1982, luck came knocking on his door with a role in “Family Ties.”
The Michael J. Fox Breaks Silence After Death-Scare-Inducing Post first appeared on The Blast
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