Michael J. Fox continued turning a personal battle into a powerful push for a Parkinson’s cure. More than two decades after going public with his diagnosis, the actor remained determined to speed up research.
Fox’s foundation has funded more than $3 billion in Parkinson’s disease research since he created it in 2000. Now, his relentless advocacy earned him one of America’s most prestigious scientific honors.
Michael J. Fox continues his fight for Parkinson’s research after more than 20 years with the disease
The Lasker Foundation honored Fox with its Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award. Previous recipients included Bill and Melinda Gates, Anthony Fauci, and Christopher Reeve. Fox told PEOPLE that his celebrity gave him an opportunity to make a difference. “[I knew] my name could attract attention to help us achieve our goals faster. But I also have this disease. I know the issues and I share my community’s sense of urgency,” he said.
The actor first experienced Parkinson’s symptoms in 1990 at just 29. The foundation said Fox helped challenge the disease’s stigma while transforming Parkinson’s research. Living publicly with symptoms had not always been easy. Fox experienced tremors and balance problems, admitting, “Of course, things have gotten harder over the years.” Still, he remained committed to the cause.
“I’m privileged to commit my time and energy to bringing everything I’ve got to help cure this disease,” Fox told the outlet.
The five-time Emmy and four-time Golden Globe winner called the Lasker honor “a standout.” He said the prize showed what science could accomplish when researchers stayed focused. Fox also dedicated the recognition to researchers, clinicians, patients, and families. Meanwhile, Fox had found another unexpected way to reconnect with acting. He recently appeared in Season 3 of Shrinking, playing a character with Parkinson’s opposite Harrison Ford.
“This new character allows me to show up on set as myself,” Fox said. He also called the experience “insanely fun.” Fox previously stepped away from acting in 2020 after struggling to memorize lines. However, Shrinking allowed him to use his daily experiences within scenes.
His foundation remained his biggest priority. Fox hoped to return for a fourth season while launching a campaign seeking another $2.5 billion for research. “The Foundation’s work is about driving toward a world without Parkinson’s,” he said. “We don’t know exactly when it’ll happen, but it will happen.”
