Michael J Fox joined by wife Tracy Pollan and kids at Sundance premiere of docu on his Parkinson's battle
PARK CITY, UTAH: Michael J Fox received a standing ovation for the international debut of his documentary 'Still: A Michael J Fox Movie', chronicling his life, career, and battle with Parkinson's disease, which premiered on Friday, January 20, at the Sundance Film Festival. He was supported by his wife of 35 years Tracy Pollan.
Fox, who has been battling Parkinson's disease since 1991, smiled for a sweet picture with his 62-year-old actress wife at the festival held in Utah this year. The couple was joined by their children: Sam Michael, Schuyler Frances, and Aquinnah Kathleen.
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The 'Family Ties' actor wore a bright blue 'New York' jacket over a white Henley T-shirt, black pants, and Nike sneakers to support his beloved NBA team, while Pollan looked stylish as she wore a black coat over a black and white checked sweater which she paired with black pants, and leather booties.
The 'Back to the Future' star said he was particularly moved to see his own family on-screen. "When I watch the film the thing that screams at me — how lucky I’ve been and how successful I’ve been — is the stuff with my family. It’s just such joy," the actor said, as per New York Post. "I see my daughters laughing, Tracy trying to make sense of my craziness, and Sam being a 33-year-old man. When the hell did that happen?"
Not much is known about the documentary but Deadline's Pete Hammond wrote, "With the spirit of the kind of 80’s movies that helped make Fox a very big star on both big and small screens, this hybrid uses docu techniques, most notably a talking head interview with the star himself weaved in with clever use of archival footage and movie clips, as well as scripted recreations with actors where needed to make it all complete. The star here, as always, is Fox himself, battling the intense effects of the Parkinsons' disease he has had since being diagnosed at only age 29, but successfully and enthusiastically telling his story, a single talking headshot, straight into the camera."
The actor, who relocated from Quogue, New York, to Santa Barbara, California, in 2021, had a Parkinson's disease diagnosis in 1991 at the age of 29. He kept the illness a secret for seven years, but now, through his Michael J Fox Foundation, he is a vocal supporter of funding and research. While appearing on Mike Birbiglia's 'Working It Out' podcast back in June 2022, Fox acknowledged that after being diagnosed, remembering lines had been difficult. "When I did the spinoff from The Good Wife, which is The Good Fight, I couldn't remember the lines. I just had this blank, I couldn't remember the lines," he stated.