Michael J. Fox has been living with Parkinson’s for over three decades, but the Back to the Future star still finds plenty of reasons to smile—especially when it comes to his family. Last weekend, he was right there on the sidelines of the New York City Marathon cheering on his youngest daughter, Esmé, who just turned 24 and crushed the 26.2-mile course.
Fox was diagnosed at 29 back in 1991 and went public with the news in 1998. Two years later, he launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which has raised hundreds of millions to speed up treatments and, hopefully one day, a cure.
Even on tougher days, the actor keeps his chin up. In a recent chat with People, he explained how he starts each morning: “I wake up and get the message of what the day is gonna be like, and I try to adjust to it.” He relies on a wheelchair a lot now—“it took some getting used to,” he admits—but he’s quick to add, “You take the good, and you seize it.”
After stepping away from acting in 2020, Fox couldn’t stay away for long. He’s popped up in the third season of Shrinking (playing a character with Parkinson’s, naturally) and just released a new book, Future Boy.
A Proud Dad Moment with Esmé
Fox and his wife, Tracy Pollan, have four kids together: son Sam and daughters Aquinnah, Schuyler, and Esmé. The youngest, Esmé, arrived in November 2001 and seems to have inherited her dad’s creative spark. Back in 2013, Fox told Good Housekeeping (via ABC) that she’s “always reading a book, editing a movie on her computer, or dressing up.” He added, “She’s got that curiosity and that joy that I had… and I still have that now.”
Fox isn’t big on posting family photos, so when he does, it feels special. Last year for Esmé’s 23rd birthday, he shared a sweet collage and wrote, “Esme, Happy birthday to our renaissance gal. You do it all. Your Dood loves you very much… Keep living your best life.”
This year, he upped the ante. On marathon day—also Esmé’s birthday—he posted a heart-melting shot of her spotting the family in the crowd, grinning ear-to-ear as she jogged over.
Looking Ahead with Grace
Nobody knows what the future holds for Fox’s health, but he’s remarkably at peace with it. In a 2023 Town & Country interview, the 62-year-old said, “One day I’ll run out of gas… If that comes, I’ll allow myself that.” He doesn’t fear the end: “Certainly, if I were to pass away tomorrow, it would be premature, but it wouldn’t be unheard of. And so, no, I don’t fear that.”
For now, he’s soaking up moments like watching Esmé cross that finish line—proof that joy, family, and a little stubborn optimism can carry you pretty far.
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