How Michael J. Fox Uses His Dark Sense of Humor to Cope With Parkinson’s Challenges

Legendary actor Michael J. Fox has shown off his sense of humor in countless TV shows and movies over the years, and now he is talking about how his humor is carrying him through life with Parkinson’s disease. Per People, at the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s annual A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s gala on Nov. 16, the Back to the Future star said he hangs on to his dark sense of humor.

He said, however, that sometimes preserving that sense of humor is “hard for me,” but, the five-time Emmy-award-winning actor added, “I gotta keep it intact.” Fox said he likes having a darker sense of humor during hard times because it can sometimes be a way to break the ice during conversations that may otherwise be hard.

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Fox’s Foundation Has Raised $2 Billion for Parkinson’s Research

Fox’s annual gala raised $116 million for Parkinson’s disease research and to date, since the foundation’s inception in 2000, it has raised $2 billion towards the cause. The Family Ties and Spin City actor was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991, and in 1998 went public with the news of his disease.

“I have challenges that come with Parkinson’s, but my experience is to deal with things through humor,” Fox said in a previous interview.

Fox said he started the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 because of the lack of funding for Parkinson’s research. “They didn’t have money, they didn’t have a voice, and I thought, I could step in for these people and raise some hell,” Fox told CBS Mornings. “It’s not a cure. But it’s a big spotlight on where we need to go, and what we need to focus on, so we know we’re on the right path, and we’re very proud,” Fox said.

A Rock Star Moment Over the Summer for Fox

Parkinson’s didn’t stop Fox from joining the band Coldplay onstage during a summer 2024 show to play guitar with the band. Variety reported that Coldplay frontman Chris Martin freestyled the lyrics to the band’s song “Humankind,” pointing out members of the Glastonbury crowd, which included Fox.

“With his Chuck Berry riff and the way he punched Biff, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Michael J. Fox,” Martin announced, and Fox took the stage to play guitar. “The main reason we’re in a band is because of Back to the Future. So thank you to Michael, our hero.”

Earlier this year, Fox was honored as one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world. He also toyed with the idea of coming out of retirement for the right role. Fox retired from acting officially in 2020.

“If someone offers me a part and I do it and I have a good time, great,” Fox told Entertainment Tonight. “I would do acting if something came up that I could put my realities into it, my challenges if I could figure it out,” he said.

All three Back to the Future movies are currently streaming on Peacock.

Source: People

Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Release Date

July 3, 1985

Studio

Cast

Claudia Wells , Christopher Lloyd , James Tolkan , Thomas F. Wilson , Michael J. Fox , Wendie Jo Sperber , Crispin Glover , Marc McClure , Lea Thompson

Writers

Robert Zemeckis , Bob Gale

Runtime

116 minutes

Main Genre

Sci-Fi

Production Company

Budget

$19 million

Studio(s)

Universal Pictures

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

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