Back in the day, Michael J. Fox was undoubtedly one of the biggest young Hollywood stars in the 80s and no one matched his level of popularity and stardom among his contemporaries at the time. In addition to his Emmy-winning performance as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties, he became synonymous with Marty McFly from the iconic Back to the Future trilogy.
However, his glorious career in Hollywood was severely affected when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991. While he was in pain as the symptoms became more severe, the actor refused to let it demoralize him and he continued to work whenever he could. Curb Your Enthusiasm creator Larry David made a controversial but perfect use of Parkinson’s and Fox in his show in 2011.
Michael J. Fox Was Blown Away By Larry David’s Pitch for His Appearance on His Show
Michael J. Fox has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the young age of 29 and the actor has been open about his struggles with the disease. His diagnosis severely impacted him at a time when he was at his peak in Hollywood. Despite his sickness that caused him immense pain and discomfort. he continued acting in the 2000s in shows like Scrubs, Boston Legal, and Rescue Me.
However, the actor found a special project in the form of his appearance in Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2011. Series creator Larry David pitched a unique way where Parkinson’s could be used to provoke laughs but not in a way that undermines the disease. In episode 10 of season 8 titled Larry vs. Michael J. Fox, the duo are seen bickering frequently and Fox constantly refers to his Parkinson’s diagnosis as an excuse every time he tricks and mocks David.
Fox immediately resonated with David’s pitch for his appearance on the show. While he understood the risk of people who might take the funny use of Parkinson’s to be a controversial one, David never let it be offensive and Fox himself was excited to watch his episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Fox wrote about it in his memoir No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality saying (via Collider),
“It was the most ridiculously funny pitch ever. After all those years of hiding my symptoms… I could let it go. After Larry’s pitch, I not only wanted to be in the show, I couldn’t wait to watch it.”
The episode was extremely funny and offbeat with Fox completely being in his element and hilariously irritating David frequently. At no point, did audiences feel that David and Fox were making fun of Parkinson’s and its harmful effects. Instead, they used it as a tool to provide genuine laughs and be a running joke throughout the episode.
Michael J. Fox Is Open to Acting Again If The Right Project Comes His Way
Michael J. Fox announced his retirement from acting in 2020 and has maintained a low-key life ever since. However, the release of his incredible emotional documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, made audiences extremely nostalgic and wanted him to make a return to movies.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, the actor revealed that he would consider an acting return under the right circumstances. He stated that for that to happen, the right project is necessary where he could put his realities and feelings into it. 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”
Fox recently presented at the BAFTAs this year and he looked as enthusiastic and happy as ever, despite his sickness. While his health and safety are the most important thing, fans would love to see him return to the screen and they hope that it happens someday.
