Michael J. Fox says Parkinson's diagnosis was hell for wife Tracy Pollan

Actor Michael J. Fox, diagnosed with young‑onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991, went public with the condition in 1998. In recent interviews he said that disclosing his illness was "hell" for his wife, Tracy Pollan, describing it as a continual hardship that still affects her today.

Fox explained that he chose transparency to help normalize the disease and to avoid "half measures" in advocacy. He later founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000, which has funded more than $3 billion in Parkinson’s research worldwide. After a six‑year acting hiatus, he returned to the screen in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking, noting that acting "really prolonged my life" and keeps him engaged.

He also recounted logging into anonymous online Parkinson’s forums after going public to gauge patients' reactions, describing his initial surprise at the positive feedback and the broader impact of his visibility on public awareness of the disorder.