Michael J. Fox opens up about distressing struggle after Parkinson's diagnosis
Michael J. Fox made waves earlier in the month when he appeared at New York Comic Con over the weekend and reunited with his Back to the Future co-star Christopher Lloyd.
MORE: Michael J. Fox's story behind his Parkinson's diagnosis is heartbreaking
Fans were left concerned for Michael's health, however, after clips from the event showed the actor struggling to stand due to his ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease.
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The actor was diagnosed with the neurological disorder when he was just 29 years old. The actor had only just married his wife Tracy Pollan at the time, who he struck a relationship with on the set of Family Ties in the 1980s.
He has spoken in the past about not only the way it has affected his life, but also his acting career, especially when it comes to memorizing lines.
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When speaking on the Working It Out podcast in June, he said: "When I did the spinoff from The Good Wife, which is The Good Fight, I couldn't remember the lines. I just had this blank, I couldn't remember the lines.
He added that it was a contrast to the way he would be able to work with lines and roles earlier in his career, specifically on Family Ties.
Michael made waves with his Comic Con appearance
"I'd go, 'I'm in. Mallory, get off the phone.' And I knew it, like in an instant, and it continued to be that way for me," he shared.
"I have 70 pages of dialogue on a [Brian] De Palma movie, and knowing that a hugely expensive Steadicam shot depends on me knowing the lines — not a trickle of sweat on my brow."
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Michael explained that since then, he shifted his focus to avoiding roles that involve a lot of pages of dialogue and script, adding: "I can't remember five pages of dialogue. I can't do it. So I go to the beach."
Since taking a break from acting, the star has raised over $1 billion to help find a cure for Parkinson's through his organization, The Michael J. Fox foundation.
The actor has been an ardent Parkinson's disease activist
There is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease, but treatments are available to help relieve the symptoms and maintain a prolonged quality of life for those diagnosed.
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