Michael J. Fox Discusses Mortality as Life With Parkinson's Gets 'Harder'
Michael J. Fox got candid while speaking about his worsening Parkinson's disease.
In a preview of his chat with Jane Pauley for CBS Sunday Morning, the Back to the Future actor opened up about his struggles with his incurable condition.
"You've not squandered any of your capacity. But at some point, Parkinson's is going to make the call for you, isn't it?" Pauley asked the 61-year-old Hollywood icon. Fox responded, saying that mortality is "banging on the door."
He added, "I'm not gonna lie. It's getting harder. It's getting tougher. Every day gets tougher. But that's what it is. I mean, who do I see about that?"
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Actor Michael J. Fox, 61, was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991 when he was just 29. Fox tells Jane Pauley that dealing with the incurable disease is getting more challenging, and he can’t imagine living until he’s 80. More this 'Sunday Morning.' pic.twitter.com/hE7KeTiDUi
— CBS Sunday Morning ?? (@CBSSunday) April 28, 2023
In an additional preview shared by CBS, Fox noted that he's sustained many injuries related to his disease, which can involve severe tremors on the hands, arms, legs, jaw, and head, as well as impaired balance.
"I had spinal surgery. I had a tumor on my spine, and it was benign, but it messed up my walking…And then, started to break stuff. Broke this arm, and I broke this arm, I broke this elbow. I broke my face. I broke my hand," he shared, adding that a "big killer" with Parkinson's is falling, as well as "aspirating food and getting pneumonia."
He added, "All these subtle ways that gets you…you don't die from Parkinson's. You die with Parkinson's. I've been thinking about the mortality of it…I'm not gonna be 80."
The actor received his early-onset Parkinson's diagnosis in 1991 at 29 years old. He established The Michael J Fox Foundation in 2000, which became the largest non-profit to fund research to find a cure.
Next: Michael J. Fox Celebrates Major Parkinson's Breakthrough After 'Terrible Year'