One of my favorite stars of the 80s, Michael J. Fox, is making a return to television after a long absence. The “Family Ties,” “Back to the Future” and “Spin City” star left the spotlight after he went public with his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 1998. Since then, he’s been keeping busy with voiceover work and the occasional guest starring role, as well as his ongoing work to raise money for Parkinson’s research. This new special will focus on the positive, and is titled “Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist.”
The Michael J. Fox special, which airs Thursday, May 7, at 10 p.m., will follow the actor as he looks to spread his positive attitude to others during a time of economic turmoil.
Fox, who first revealed in 1998 that he suffers from Parkinson’s disease, will travel around the world for the special, including the Himalayan nation of Bhutan — described as a “modern-day Shangri La.”
While traveling, Fox will interview both famous and everyday people on how they conjure up optimism and hope.
Vicki Dummer, ABC’s co-head of alternative series, specials and latenight, called the special a “compelling look at the transformational power of optimism.”
In recent years Fox has turned his attention to his foundation, which focuses on Parkinson’s research, and he just wrote the book “Always Looking Up,” which hits bookstores March 31.
Michael J. Fox is just one of those guys you never heard a bad word about – even before his illness. He has been married to actress Tracy Pollan for 20 years, and lives in Vermont with his family. His situation really makes you wonder why bad things happen to good people. Since being diagnosed, Fox has been an outspoken advocate for research for Parkinson’s. I really do hope they find a cure in our lifetime. He is a role model for staying positive in the face of tragedy.
Here’s Marty McFly himself, Michael J. Fox with wife Tracy Pollan at a Parkinson’s research benefit last year. Photos: WENN.
“GOod things happen to bad people”
Thats so true. He’s always been one of the most humble of celebrities & it’s terrible he has to go through this but he’s also so much of a stronger person becuz of it. I luv MJF
I adore MJF! And now that President Obama has signed the bill to continue stem cell research, there’s a better chance he will see a cure for Parkinsons in his lifetime.
I think one of the reasons things like this happen to good people is to raise awareness and bring much needed funding to diseases like this. I still miss Family ties
My friend named her baby Mallory and I was like what after family ties and she was like that has been off the air for like 20 years and I felt old!!!
Good to see from Michael J Fox. He was brilliant in the Back to the Future films.
I think Michael J. Fox is a great guy also. He’s articulate, brave and talented. But let’s not whitewash him. He doesn’t hide his past. When he was a young successful actor he admits he screwed every woman he could, drank to much, drove drunk and was occasionally an arrogant jerk. He just grew out of it. I’m a big fan.
Love Michael J. Fox! I still watch re-runs of Spin City and laugh myself to tears. That was one of the greatest, funniest shows on TV, in my opinion.
I don’t own a tv, but I am so getting someone to record that show for me.
Good on him for not letting his disease bring him down. He is a role model to people (or at least myself) suffering from chronic incurable diseases. It takes so much strength to not let a diagnosis like that get you down.
The only thing that President Obama lifted the ban on was FEDERAL FUNDING for EMBRIONIC stem cells. Private funding for stem cell research was not being banned in the past and so far, it has effected no cures. Only more mature stem cells have.
It seems like if the cure was there, private funding would be somewhere close to zeroing in on it. Non-embryonic stem cells HAVE effected cures.
It is such a shame to see something like this happen to him. He has handled things pretty gracefully and seems like such a nice guy. I hope he is able to be Parkinson’s free one day along with everyone else who has it.
Will be great to see him back.
Glad funding has been/will be restored. What a waste of eight years.
it’s great to see him finally get back in the pictureafter all this time, i’ve kinda miss him
Mike has been a shining example to me since the discovery of his illness. It wasn’t until the following years I was able to follow his story–you see, I was critically injured on the first day of the year my favorite actor would be facing this crippling disease.
I’ve had to fight to survive, and have been discovered to be diabetic as well. At times the picture is increasingly bleak and his example is a warm ray of light in the darkness around me.
I love him – always have.
Mike, I’m sorry to hear your story. All I can say is that I admire someone like you who has gone through dark times and still manages to smile and go on. Hats off to you. There should be more people like you and MJ Fox in this world