Michael J. Fox opens up about a return to acting despite health struggles

Veteran actor and one of Hollywood’s most beloved icons has hinted at the only way he could return to acting after retiring in 2020.

The 62-year-old Back to the Future star, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease when he was just 29, spoke openly to Entertainment Tonight, speculating that he would return to acting if he could just “figure it out”.

“If someone offers me a part and I do it and I have a good time, great. I mean, the documentary was a big thrill,” he told their reporter.

Fox refers to the documentary, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, which he did with Apple TV+ last year.

About his involvement in the film he said, “I never would have set that as a goal. It just happened.”

Responding to questions about coming out of retirement he said, “I would do acting if something came up that I could put my realities into it, my challenges, if I could figure it out.”

Despite his decades long battle with Parkinson’s, Fox enjoyed a successful acting career appearing in films such as Back to the Future and TV shows such as Spin City.

He has also dedicated a significant portion of his life to researching the disease, donating millions of dollars towards its eradication and advocating to reduce the stigma attached to it.  

The actor has long been praised for his ability to rise above his challenges and stay positive while still being honest about his condition.

Speaking recently at the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s event, Country Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s he expressed optimism for the future despite the physical challenges he faced over the past year.

He told People Magazine, “You know, my daughter’s getting married too … good things are happening, and life is good. And so it’s been a good year, for sure.”

He also recognised his difficulties. 

“There’s been a lot of challenges,” he explained.

“A lot of physical challenges these days have been different bits, but just that I had a lot of stuff … I had a movie, a documentary and a lot of obligations.

“A lot of things have been a lot of effort … And so it was a tough year, but a good year, in each of the challenges [that] came up.”

Fox attributed his resilience and ability to overcome his health issues to the unwavering support of his family and a dedicated team.

“With the help of family, with the help of people that I work with, I’ve been able to meet those challenges and go beyond them and do new things,” Fox said.

“And the whole thing is just keep having new experiences, whether it’s experiences that push forward, what we’re trying to do and our mission with foundation.”

The other weapon in his arsenal is his ability to be grateful.

He previously told CBS Sunday Morning, “I recognise how hard this is for people, and I recognise how hard it is for me, but I have a certain set of skills that allow me to deal with this stuff.”

“And I realise, with gratitude, optimism is sustainable,” he added. 

“If you can find something to be grateful for, then you can find something to look forward to, and you carry on.”