When Michael J. Fox Refused to Disappear — And Changed the Fight Against Parkinson’s
In 1991, at just 29 years old, Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
At the peak of his fame, he hid it from the world. For seven years, he kept acting, smiling, joking — while his body betrayed him behind the scenes.
But in 1998, he made a bold move: he went public.
He risked everything — his career, his image — to tell the truth. But instead of losing work, he gained respect.
Then he went further: he launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation, now the world’s largest Parkinson’s research organization.
He didn’t just live with the disease —
he became its loudest, most fearless voice.
