Michael J. Fox recalls secretly reading Parkinson’s chatrooms following health reveal
The Back to the Future star said he secretly entered online Parkinson’s forums after going public with his diagnosis
Michael J. Fox has revealed he anonymously joined online Parkinson’s disease chatrooms after publicly disclosing his diagnosis, hoping to better understand how others living with the condition viewed his decision.
The Back to the Future star was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at the age of 29 but kept the news private for seven years before going public in 1998.
Looking back, Fox said the overwhelmingly positive reaction initially caught him off guard.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the 65-year-old actor admitted he jokingly thought, “Well, f*** you! I have Parkinson’s, and you’re celebrating,” before realising that many people at the time felt unable to openly discuss the disease.
“I got it,” he said. “People back then would never in a million years tell you they had Parkinson’s.”
Fox explained that his public disclosure also had a profound impact on his wife, actress Tracy Pollan, who has supported him throughout his journey.
“It was hell on Tracy, it was really hard on her — and it still is because it’s always changing,” he said.
The actor recalled telling his wife that he could not approach the diagnosis halfway.
“I have to go all the way here. No half measures,” he said. “I needed to normalise it and just be that all the time. I said, ‘I have to not hide this. F*** vanity.’”
Fox believes sharing his diagnosis allowed him to build a deeper connection with others facing Parkinson’s.
Speaking earlier this year during an interview with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, he said revealing his condition helped him understand where it fit into his life and how he could use his platform to support others.
“As a result, when people see me or talk to me, there is a connection that wouldn’t have been there otherwise,” he said.
Over the years, Fox has become one of the most prominent advocates for Parkinson’s awareness and research through the Michael J. Fox Foundation, while continuing to emphasise the importance of maintaining his sense of humour throughout his journey.