Neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disorder are significant causes of disability in the United States and around the world. And while they are typically associated with old age, some individuals will develop these disorders when they are relatively young. Take for instance the beloved actor Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed when he was just 29. Now 64, Fox returned to acting this year, as a guest star on Apple TV’s award-winning show, “Shrinking.”
For those who aren’t watching the show, Fox plays a character named Gerry, who gives Paul, an elderly psychotherapist with Parkinson’s, played by Harrison Ford, a window into what his own future with the disease may look like. As Gerry, Fox allows viewers the opportunity to see not only his intelligence, optimism and sense of humor, but also the true toll that Parkinson’s has taken on his body. As he educates Paul about the progression of the disease, he’s also raising awareness among the Emmy Award-winning show’s huge audience.
Fox first became a household name as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, a role that earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. He met his wife, Tracy Pollan, on the series, and the couple, who have four adult children, remain married today. His starring role in the Back to the Future films later made him one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. In 1991, while filming Doc Hollywood, Fox noticed a tremor in his pinky finger. It was the first noticeable sign of Parkinson’s disease.
He continued working for years while keeping the diagnosis private. During his time on Spin City, where he played Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty, he won another Emmy, three Golden Globes, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. But when Fox began having trouble remembering his lines during the show’s third season, he announced his retirement from acting and went public with his diagnosis.
Arguably, Fox’s most significant role began afterward. In 2000 he founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, now the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research, supporting more than $2 billion in scientific work and helping drive major advances in treatment, policy, and biomarker discovery.
In addition to his entertainment achievements, Fox received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025. He has written best-selling memoirs, been the subject of an Emmy Award-winning documentary, and continues to advocate for research and treatment. More than three decades after his diagnosis, he remains one of the most visible and influential figures working toward a cure for Parkinson’s.
Photo credit: Robert Voets/Apple TV
