In a heartwarming moment that transported fans back to 1985, Michael J Fox recently took to the stage with his iconic red Gibson guitar at his annual Parkinson's charity gala in New York.
The 64-year-old actor, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, delivered a performance strikingly reminiscent of his beloved character Marty McFly's school dance scene in Back to the Future.
A Night of Nostalgia and Hope
The special evening, called A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson's Gala, was held on Saturday at Cipriani South Street at Casa Cipriani. Michael served as co-chair alongside his wife of 36 years, Tracy Pollan.
Prior to his musical performance, the actor made a rare red carpet appearance with his entire family. The couple's four children – son Sam, 36, and daughters Aquinnah, Schuyler, both 30, and Esmé, 24 – joined their parents, showcasing the strong family unity that has supported Michael throughout his health journey.
Family Support and Foundation Milestones
Michael spoke warmly about his family's unwavering support to People magazine. "They're so supportive and so great," he shared. "They've always been there for me, and they continue to be for me, year after year."
Tracy Pollan echoed this sentiment, acknowledging both her husband's optimism and the challenges they face. "It's very difficult for the family, for the caregivers and, obviously, for the patient," she noted. "It's not easy. It's hard for them, but they show up and they're there for us."
The gala benefits the Michael J Fox Foundation, which the actor established in 2000, nine years after his diagnosis at age 29. To date, the foundation has invested an impressive $2.5 billion into research for the incurable disease.
Celebrity Support and Future Projects
The event attracted notable figures including Denis Leary as host, with musical guest Jackson Browne and comedians Nikki Glaser and Jon Stewart providing entertainment. Guests such as Katie Couric and Meg Ryan showed their support for the cause.
Despite announcing his retirement from acting in 2020, Michael is preparing to return to screens. It was revealed in May that he will join Harrison Ford in season three of AppleTV+'s hit series Shrinking, where Ford's character faces a Parkinson's diagnosis.
Reflecting on the foundation's work, Michael told People in October: "You don't know how much you need until you know how much it took. I'm so happy with what we've done. So happy to see advancement."
