'No regrets': Michael J Fox has 'no time for self pity' after battling Parkinson's for 30 years
AUSTIN, TEXAS: Michael J Fox claims he has no regrets as he described what life has been like since being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991. The 'Family Ties' star, 61, spoke about his decades-long struggle after the screening of his documentary, ‘Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie’, at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival on Tuesday, March 14.
Fox talked about his movie with director Davis Guggenheim and claimed that the purpose of sharing more about his story is to give back to his fans. "My fans have basically given me my life," he explained according to People. "I wanted to give these people who have done so much for me my time and gratitude. It was great for me to hear from all of you." When asked how he "mobilized" people to care about Parkinson's, the actor said, "I didn't have a choice.”
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'Pity is a benign form of abuse'
"This is it. I have to give everything I have, and it's not lip service. I show up and do the best I can." He continued, "Pity is a benign form of abuse. I can feel sorry for myself, but I don't have time for that. There is stuff to be learned from this, so let's do that and move on." Speaking to Guggenheim, the 'Back to the Future' star asserted that Parkinson's disease sucks “but it's a great life, so thank you for it.” "I have no regrets," he said of his period working after his diagnosis. "You do what you have to do, but you do not want to kill yourself. And that's when I stopped."
Fox said that the movie covers a lot more ground than just the specifics of his medical history. The film "incorporates documentary, archival and scripted elements, recounting Fox's extraordinary story in his own words,” according to a logline for the documentary. The film gives an "account of Fox's public life, full of nostalgic thrills and cinematic gloss" while offering a glimpse of his "never-before-seen private journey, including the years that followed his diagnosis with Parkinson's.”
'I drank to dissociate'
These claims from Fox came after he turned to alcohol to cope with his devastating diagnosis. Fox first talked about it in 1998 before he founded the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in 2000. “I drank to dissociate,” he said to Guggenheim at the premiere of his documentary in January. “I was definitely an alcoholic. But I’ve gone 30 years without having a drink.” He also spoke about the difficulties he has with his stride and said “the walking really freaks people out. But if you pity me, it’s never gonna get to me. It’s been a f**king amazing life”.