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(Image: Getty)
Following the release of Back To The Future in 1985, you couldn’t look sideways without seeing Michael J Fox, the lovable Canadian-American who seemed to come out of nowhere – and yet had the world at his feet. However, in 1991 that world would come crashing down following a shock Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Now in his 60s, the actor is baring his soul in the new documentary Still, which sees Michael and his family grapple with the disease in a world fixated on perfection.
Following his diagnosis with Parkinson’s, Fox has been a strong advocate for Parkinson’s awareness.
(Image: Getty)WD: Where did the idea to make this film come from?
MJF: It really came from the books I’d written. [Director] Davis Guggenheim had read them, which I was thrilled about because I’m a fan, and he said he wanted to make them into a film. I had nothing else to do so I said, “Sure, why not?”
Do you think audiences will see a different side to you?
I hope they enjoy it and that they see that this is a story about belief, perseverance and resilience in whatever you’re trying to overcome. This isn’t a sad story. It’s about love and joy and how to rise above challenges. It’s about enjoying life and
being thankful – which is what I’m doing.
It features a lot of great footage of you shooting the first Back To The Future. How do you look back on that time in your life?
With a lot of fondness and love. It was a lot of work but I wasn’t complaining. I was chasing my dreams. I was young and I was hungry, so I was glad of the opportunity to work on something so huge and to work with so many talented people. I’ll always be grateful.
Michael J Fox is best known for his role as Marty McFly in the iconic Back to the Future trilogy.
(Image: Getty)How have you managed to stay so optimistic?
It’s a choice. I’m optimistic because the idea of being anything else is just too terrifying. I accepted the challenges I face long ago. I’m dealing with it but most of all I’m just enjoying life.
How important is the support your family provides to you?
Well, my wife is a huge support to me – literally! If she didn’t hold me up, I would be on the floor. That’s kind of a metaphor for my life. [Laughs] Tracy [Pollan] really is a remarkable woman. She’s known about my Parkinson’s from the day I was diagnosed just after we were married 35 years ago. That’s a long time but she’s always there. She and my family and our friends are everything to me. They’re the tonic that gets me through the tough times.
Michael and his wife Tracy have been married for 35 years.
(Image: Getty)You and [Back To The Future co-star] Christopher Lloyd seem to have a special relationship also. Can you remember when you first met?
It was on the set of Back To The Future, for the Twin Pines Mall scene. It was like, “This is Chris. Chris meet Mike…” and off we went. It was crazy because they had a different actor playing Marty for the first five weeks of filming but it didn’t work out. I don’t know why but it just worked between me and Chris. The more I got to know him, the more I came to love and appreciate him. My friendship with Chris is hands down the best thing to have come out of those movies and he has been with me every step of the way since.
You have achieved so much through your work with the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. What do you hope for the future of that?
Simple – to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. That has always been the goal and I really believe that we will get there eventually thanks to the doctors, scientists, researchers, all the people affected by Parkinson’s disease and the thousands who support us. I’m confident that we will get there.
STILL is available to stream now on Apple TV+ with a 7 day free trial. Subscribe here.
