Michael J. Fox Drank to Cope with Parkinson’s Disease: “I Was an Alcoholic”

PARK CITY, Utah — A powerful new documentary goes inside Michael J. Fox’s decades-long struggle with Parkinson’s disease, and depicts the “Back to the Future” star’s enormous optimism in the face of hardship.

“The walking really freaks people out,” After taking a stroll through Manhattan, the actor, 61, spoke out about the challenges he experiences with his stride. “But if you pity me, it’s never gonna get to me.”

“Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival Friday to a long standing ovation for both the movie and its beloved subject who’d flown into Utah for the event.

Fox spoke onstage following the screening. “It’s been a f–king amazing life.”

Apple TV+ will be available later in the year “Still” The performer is known for his boyishness, and ability to deliver a punchline. He was just 16 years old when he moved to Hollywood from Edmonton, Canada.

His father, who was skeptical, gave in and bankrolled the trip, telling him that he believed. “If you’re gonna be a lumberjack, you might as well live in the goddamn forest.”

After a series of low-paying gigs and five years in a grungy Beverly Hills studio apartment — he says he had so little money, he resorted to eating Smuckers jam packets — Fox became one of America’s most famous actors.

At 21 years of age, he was cast as Alex P. Keaton (TV series). “Family Ties,” Marty McFly was then cast as his lasting role in the movie. “Back to the Future” trilogy. His films were shown for one week in 1985. “Back to the Future” And “Teen Wolf” They were the No. They were the No. 2 films at the domestic box-office

He was at his peak of popularity, graced the pages of glossies and lounging comfortably on the couch. “The Tonight Show,” But things would soon crumble.

Fox claims that Fox is the embodiment of fame “I was the Prince of Hollywood,” However, his life experiences have taught him that he is better. “You think it’s made of brick and rock. But it’s not. It’s made out of paper and feathers. It’s an illusion.”

This was evident after a night of drinking in Florida in 1990. After waking up feeling hungover, he noticed his pinky finger was twitching. When it didn’t improve, he finally visited a neurologist in 1991 who diagnosed him with Parkinson’s. Shocked, he retorted at the doctor. “You know who you’re talking to, right? I’m not supposed to get this.”

For seven years, he kept his diagnosis secret. He took dopamine tablets to calm the symptoms early on and carried props in the left hand to cover the shaking. Retrospectively, footage from his time at the time revealed the stress he was going through. He used alcohol to overcome his silence.

“I drank to dissociate,” He says it to Davis Guggenheim. “I was definitely an alcoholic. But I’ve gone 30 years without having a drink.”

Scenes in “Still” Fox is shown working with a trainer to develop strategies to strengthen his legs and stabilize his walking. In the weeks the documentary was filmed, he sustained several injuries from falls, which is a common symptom of Parkinson’s. Fox fractured his left cheekbone, his hand and arm bones, as well as his shoulder.

“A festival of self-abuse,” He jokes.

Fox doesn’t like when people tell him to “be careful.”

“This has nothing to do with being careful,” He said. “This happens. You get Parkinson’s, you trip over stuff.” 

He is pictured here with Sam, his 33-year old son. Sam is one of the four children he shares. “Family Ties” co-star Tracy Pollan, Fox asks, “Do you feel like you have a 90-year-old dad? Because I don’t feel old.”

He shares in the film that Parkinson’s causes him “intense pain,” yet he also sees it as a grounding contrast to his years spent in the limelight being someone he didn’t recognize.

“Parkinson’s is a disaster — that’s real,” He said. “You can’t walk and you can’t go to the bathroom — that’s real.”

Fox enjoyed a career rebound in the aughts/2010s and appeared on TV shows such as “The Good Fight” And “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” in which he didn’t shy away from Parkinson’s and was able to be himself. He retired from acting in 2020He continues to write books about his experiences and Michael J. Fox Foundation has been an advocate for more research and funding of the incurable disease.

“People express to me that I make them feel better and do things that they normally wouldn’t do,” He said. “That’s a big responsibility.”