'I was definitely an alcoholic': Michael J Fox reveals how Parkinson's diagnosis destroyed him
PARK CITY, UTAH: Michael J Fox spoke about his decades-long struggle with Parkinson’s disease and how he turned to alcohol to cope with it at the premiere of his documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah on Friday, January 20. Following an emotional standing ovation from his fans for the movie 'Still: A Michael J Fox Movie', the 61-year-old actor delved into staying optimistic through the years despite his hardships.
“The walking really freaks people out,” the actor said referring to the difficulties he has with his stride, as per the New York Post. “But if you pity me, it’s never gonna get to me.” He then continues reflecting on his life onstage, "It’s been a f**king amazing life." Fox’s docu 'Still' which is streaming on Apple TV+ portrays the performer’s struggles with the disease in full effect. The film shows how the young actor dropped out of high school at the age of 16 to become the biggest star of Hollywood only for that to shift after he learns he has Parkinson’s before the age of 30. It is made clear that at the height of his popularity after bagging roles in movies like 'Back to the Future' and 'Teen Wolf', Fox's life immediately fell apart after he was diagnosed with the disease.
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“I was the Prince of Hollywood,” he said, admitting to success getting to his head. However, life experience has taught him better, as per the outlet. “You think it’s made of brick and rock. But it’s not. It’s made out of paper and feathers. It’s an illusion.”
During a night out in Florida in 1990, Fox woke up hungover and noticed that his pinky finger was twitching. After no recovery, he visited a neurologist who diagnosed him with Parkinson’s. “You know who you’re talking to, right? I’m not supposed to get this,” he said at the time.
The star kept the diagnosis secret for seven years and gulped down dopamine pills to relax early symptoms. However, the star turned to booze to cope with the stress the silence put him through. “I drank to dissociate,” he said to ‘Still’ director Davis Guggenheim. “I was definitely an alcoholic. But I’ve gone 30 years without having a drink.”
During the filming of the documentary, Fox endured several injuries due to falling, a common symptom of Parkinson’s. He broke the bones in his left cheek, hand, and arm and dislocated his shoulder. “Parkinson’s is a disaster — that’s real,” he said. “You can’t walk and you can’t go to the bathroom — that’s real.”
After retiring from acting in 2020, Fox continues to write books about his experiences. His Michael J Fox Foundation has been a driving force in advocating for more research and funding for the so-far incurable disease. “People express to me that I make them feel better and do things that they normally wouldn’t do,” he said, according to the NY Post. “That’s a big responsibility.”