If Family Ties and Back to the Future are still remembered as evergreen classics today, a lot of the credit must go to Michael J. Fox. The Hollywood star was the country’s heartthrob in the 80s for his youthful good looks, amicable personality, and his relatability as a protagonist. His character as Marty Mcfly in the Back to the Future trilogy earned him huge success and popularity.
The desire to become an actor meant that Michael J. Fox had to take the tough decision to sacrifice a life of education to pursue a career in Hollywood. While the Family Ties star was passionate about wanting to fulfill his dream, he did not receive wholehearted encouragement from all corners, especially from his teaching fraternity.
Michael J. Fox’s Teacher Discouraged Him From Quitting School For A Movie Career
In the 80s, Michael J. Fox cemented his place as one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood with his hit show Family Ties followed by his blockbuster film trilogy, Back to the Future, with the latter becoming a cult classic in cinema. While Fox’s dream to be a movie star became a reality, the actor had to endure many contrasting opinions about the risks involved in choosing this career path.
When the Stuart Little star quit education to pursue acting, his social studies teacher from school did not mince words about commenting on this decision. Accepting the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award ( via YouTube), Fox quoted his teacher’s words and his response, saying,
“I told my history teacher of my plan and he said, ‘Fox, you’re not gonna be cute forever.’ I had no idea how to respond to that, so I said, ‘Maybe just long enough, sir. Maybe just long enough.’
Fox’s words ultimately rang true as the celebrity was considered one of the most ageless stars in Hollywood for a very long time and is still associated with his famous 80s roles.
Michael J. on His Struggle To Accept His Parkinson’s Diagnosis
Despite being considered one of the most evergreen stars in Hollywood, fate dealt a cruel blow to Michael J. Fox when he was just 29 years old. The actor was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that can cause tremors, slow movement, balance problems, and stiff limbs, as well as depression, hallucinations, and cognitive impairments. This gradually degenerative condition meant that Fox’s physical health would deteriorate steadily over the years.
Having been told that he would only have 10 years to live, the star disintegrated mentally and lived in a very dark place without wanting to share his diagnosis with anyone. Speaking of his loss of hope and inability to come to terms with the situation, Fox said, in his acceptance speech for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (YouTube),
“The hardest part of my diagnosis was grappling with the certainty of the diagnosis and the uncertainty of the situation. Then I entered into seven years of denial, trying to make sense of it all. The kid who left Canada, convinced that he would make anything happen just by working hard and by believing, now had a tall order in front of him,”
When Michael J. Fox decided to share his story in public, he was amazed and touched by the outpouring of love and wishes that he received from fellow actors and fans. This encouragement and support helped the actor overcome many hurdles, continue his acting career, and become an inspirational advocate for the disease, through which he helped millions of people suffering the same fate as him.
Source: YouTube
