Michael J. Fox, the 73-year-old actor who became a household name with iconic roles in movies like "Back to the Future" and TV series like "Family Ties," has been battling Parkinson's disease since he was 29.
A recent documentary about his life, produced by Oscar-winner Davis Guggenheim, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.
Fox was diagnosed shortly after marrying Tracy Pollen and welcoming their first child. Tracy has been his steadfast supporter, and together they have been raising funds for Parkinson's research.
Fox went public with his condition in 1998 and semi-retired from acting two years later due to deteriorating health.
Fox took some time to come to terms with his condition but eventually chose to make the most of his life despite the challenges. "Parkinson's is terrible, but life is great. Pity is a subtle form of abuse.
I can feel sorry for myself, but I don't have time for that," he said during a Q&A session at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival.
Fox founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the world's largest non-profit funder of Parkinson's research. His dedication earned him a spot on Time Magazine's 2007 list of 100 people "whose power, talent, or moral example is transforming the world."
Recently, Fox admitted that despite his positive outlook, his condition is worsening. "It's getting hard, it's getting harder every day. But that's life," he told CBS Sunday Morning anchor Jane Pauley. He also opened up about the intense pain he experiences due to his condition.
Despite the challenges, Fox assured his fans that he's not going anywhere. "The depression isn't so deep that I'm going to harm myself. There's more to celebrate in my life than there is to mourn," he concluded.
Watch Michael J. Fox in: Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie below.
