>> Continued From the Previous Page <<
Fox has faced the disease with the same charm and optimism that endeared him to fans worldwide. Yet, as Pollan revealed at a recent New York City gala, the truth behind the public image is far more challenging.
“Michael is so optimistic, which is wonderful and really helps him, but it’s really important to also understand that this is a huge challenge,” Pollan told People magazine. “It’s very difficult for the family, for the caregivers and, obviously, for the patient.”
Pollan, 65, who married Fox in 1988 after meeting on the set of Family Ties, didn’t sugarcoat the toll Parkinson’s takes on those closest to him.
“It’s not just all sorts of easy. It’s not easy. It’s hard for them, but they show up, and they’re there for us,” she added.
Fox’s journey has been marked not only by courage but also by serious physical setbacks. Diagnosed in 1991 after noticing a tremor in his pinky finger while filming Doc Hollywood, he initially kept his condition private, continuing to work in Hollywood while concealing the impact of the disease.
By 1998, Fox went public, becoming the face of Parkinson’s awareness. Yet even now, he rarely discusses the severe physical damage he’s endured. In a revealing October interview with The Times, Fox described the injuries he suffered over just three years:
“It’s absolutely incredible, the stuff I broke. In a three-year period, I broke my elbow, I broke my hand, I got a big infection in my hand, and I almost lost my finger.”
The setbacks didn’t stop there.
“I had all these little bones broken, and [they] got infected, and they had to cut the bones out because the bones got infected. I broke my other shoulder, had it replaced. I broke my cheekbone. I had a plate here,” Fox explained, calling the series of injuries “just like a tragedy.”
Even hobbies like playing the guitar—once a constant companion at his office desk—have been taken away by the disease. “It’s terrible,” he admitted.
Parkinson’s has also made simple physical tasks risky. Fox told The Times that walking has become dangerous. “I take it easy now. I don’t walk that much anymore. I can walk, but it’s not pretty. So I just roll that into my life, you know — no pun intended.”
Despite the hardship, Fox draws immense strength from his family. He and Pollan have four children: Sam, 36, Aquinnah and Schuyler, 30, and Esmé, 24.
“They’re so supportive and so great,” Fox told People at the gala.
Pollan emphasized that their children have grown up alongside their father’s illness. “Michael was diagnosed before the girls were born and very, very early in Sam’s life, so it’s kind of all they know,” she said. “And they’re just incredibly supportive. They’re very helpful to me. I lean on them a lot.”
Fox’s determination and optimism continue to inspire millions who followed him from Family Ties to his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning performances. But Pollan’s candid comments reveal the heartbreaking reality that accompanies every day for his family—watching a man they love lose physical abilities while his mind remains sharp.
At the gala, Fox was surrounded by his wife, children, and longtime friends. “All these people are friends of mine, family, and it’s really great to see them,” Fox said. “They’ve always been there for me, and they continue to be there for me year after year.”
Even with his limitations, Fox isn’t stepping away from the craft he loves. He’s set to appear in the upcoming third season of Apple TV+’s Shrinking, proving that Parkinson’s may slow him down but cannot stop his passion.
Pollan’s heartfelt words shed light on the unseen struggles behind Hollywood’s eternally optimistic icon—a battle that grows more challenging each day.
