Michael J Fox reveals how he developed Parkinson's, fears he 'did some damage' in the '80s
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Michael J Fox who founded a Parkinson's disease research foundation recently talked about his struggles after getting diagnosed with the disease. Recently, he was interviewed on 'CBS Sunday Morning', where he was invited to promote his documentary, 'Still: A Michael J Fox Movie', which is coming to Apple TV+ on May 12.
In the exclusive interview, Fox shared the early days of his Parkinson's diagnosis and how he hid it from the world for a long long time, before giving in and bringing it out to the world. In the interview, he shared the many reasons he could have caught Parkinson's disease and shared, "Most likely I think is, that I was exposed to some kind of chemical. What we say is that genetics loads the gun and environment pulls the trigger," Fox said.
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Michael J Fox struggled with Parkinson's from an early age
While filming 'Doc Hollywood' in 1991, Fox developed a tremor in his pinky finger. A consultation with a neurologist revealed a surprising and devastating diagnosis: he had young-onset Parkinson’s disease. He was only 29 years old. But Fox didn't feel like bringing his diagnosis to the world and hence kept it tightly under wraps. After completing another season for his hit show, 'Spin City', Fox retired from full-time acting to focus on advocacy and fundraising for Parkinson’s disease. Today the foundation is the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's drug development, the Foundation has motivated the search for a cure and is a commanding voice changing ways people approach Parkinson's and its effects. To date, the foundation has raised over $1.75 billion and brought the world closer to a cure.
Michael J Fox struggles with alcohol addiction after Parkinson’s diagnosis
In the new documentary, 'Still: A Michael J Fox Movie' Fox shared his experience with the disease and share its repercussions with the world. The documentary slowly unwraps Fox's life with the disease and how he kept it from the world for many years. The 'Back to the Future' star was diagnosed back in 1991 and didn't reveal his struggles to the audience for the next seven years as he coped with the realization of it privately with denial and depression.
"As low as alcohol had brought me, abstinence would bring me lower. I could no longer escape myself" shared Fox on how the diagnosis made him a raging alcoholic. "I didn't know what was happening. I didn't know what was coming. So what if I could just have four glasses of wine and maybe a shot?" Fox shared. "I was definitely an alcoholic. But I've gone 30 years without having a drink."
'Still: A Michael J Fox Movie' on Apple TV+
The documentary on Apple TV+ is about the life of Fox and the turn it took after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. The documentary recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is all set to release on the streaming channel on May 12. Here's the official synopsis of the docu that reads, "A short kid from a Canadian army base becomes the international pop culture darling of the 1980s, only to find the course of his life altered by a stunning diagnosis. The actor who is an incurable optimist is forced to confront an incurable disease."