Michael J. Fox revealed that his decision to go public with his Parkinson's diagnosis was "hell" for his wife, Tracy Pollan.
The 65-year-old was just 29 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's, three years into his and Tracy's marriage, but he didn't share his condition with the public until 1998.
"It was hell on Tracy, it was really hard on her — and it still is because it's always changing," he told The Hollywood Reporter of his public exposure.
Michael said he told Tracy that he wanted to use his platform to "normalize" the disease and give people a reason to be "optimistic."
"But I said to her, 'I have to go all the way here. No half measures.' I started to understand what it was like for these people who didn't have the options or the choices I had, didn't have the connections and the reason to be optimistic," he explained.
"I needed to normalize it and just be that all the time. I said, 'I have to not hide this. [Expletive] vanity.'"
© InstagramSince his diagnosis, Michael has dedicated his life to raising awareness and has funded over $3 billion in research through The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which he founded in 2000.
"We have to find a way to get through every day, and if we can find a way to get through every day and at the same time be fueling for our actions and our deeds and our philanthropy, then that's a great thing," he added.
© Getty Images"It's individually elevating lives. So it's not just the money, it's not just the science — it's the humanity."
Inside Michael and Tracy's relationship
Tracy and Michael have been married since 1988 after first meeting on the set of the popular sitcom, Family Ties, in 1985. However, at the time, Michael was romantically involved with actress Nancy McKeon, and Tracy was dating actor Kevin Bacon.
© InstagramTwo years later, they found themselves single and reunited when they were cast in the drama film Bright Lights, Big City.
After seven months of dating, they wed on July 16, 1988, at West Mountain Inn in Arlington, Vermont. They now share four children: son Sam, 37, twin daughters, Aquinnah and Schuyler, 31, and Esmé, 24.
Following his Parkinson's diagnosis, Michael admitted that he would have forgiven Tracy if she decided to "step out" of their marriage.
© Getty Images"At any time, she would have been forgiven to say, 'I just want to step out,' but she didn't do that," he said on CBS Mornings in November 2023
He added: "I love Tracy obviously and she's an amazing person and has gone through a lot. I realize she has a life separate from me having Parkinson's, from me being Alex Keaton or Marty McFly; she's a person. I think that's why it's gone okay."
Michael's views on death
© Getty ImagesHaving lived with the disease for decades, Michael is no longer scared of death. "One day I’ll run out of gas," he told Town & Country.
"One day I'll just say, 'It's not going to happen. I'm not going out today.' If that comes, I'll allow myself that."
He added: "Certainly, if I were to pass away tomorrow, it would be premature, but it wouldn't be unheard of. And so, no, I don't fear [death]."
