Michael J. Fox is well-known for starring in the famous “Back to the Future” franchise. The actor gained immense popularity after starring in the sci-fi/comedy trilogy. He was at the height of his career in the 1990s with steady career prospects, a growing reputation, and a number of blockbuster films to his name.
Sadly, things took a dark turn for the actor in 1991 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease for the first time. At the time, the actor was merely 29. Over the next few weeks, his health deteriorated, and his symptoms grew worse. With less vitality and constant tremors, Fox decided to step back from acting.
Michael J. Fox in “Spin City”, 1996 | Source: Getty Images
With his retirement came the drive to want to give back to the community. Fox took to promoting stem cell research, ending up in a political campaign ad for Claire McCaskill when she ran against Senator Jim Talent of Missouri, who wanted to ban stem cell research—a field with countless medical applications.
These principles help Fox keep a positive outlook despite his challenging circumstances.
In the ad, his Parkinson’s caused him to rock visibly, and his medication caused slight involuntary spasms. The actor’s illness had clearly progressed quite far. However, not everyone took the ad for what it was. The famous political commentator Rush Limbaugh criticized Fox, saying he was “exaggerating” the effects of his disease.
Even though Limbaugh had criticized Fox openly and unfairly called him “shameless,” the Canadian-American actor didn’t respond in kind. Instead, he made a nonchalant retort meant simply to disarm his dissenter. Fox stayed reasonable and didn’t lose his head over the comment.
In response to Limbaugh insisting he was “either off his medication or acting,” the actor fired back, saying, “My pills are working really well right now.”
Seeing Fox’s calm response, Limbaugh realized he may have misjudged and apologized for his rash critique. However, Fox’s representative soon spoke out:
“It’s an appalling, sad statement. Anybody who understands Parkinson’s disease knows it’s because of the medicine that one experiences.”
Rush Limbaugh on October 2, 2003 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Source: Getty Images
Fox’s calm, collected response is an excellent indication of how he approaches his ordeal. Despite the challenging days and the testy nature of his disease, he has kept up his spirits. The actor has refused to let his Parkinson’s get...
