Michael J. Fox Reveals He Nearly Lost A Finger Because Of Parkinson’s Disease

The Hollywood star Michael J. Fox of “Family Ties” and Back To The Future fame has shockingly revealed that he nearly lost a finger due to Parkinson’s disease, which he has been battling since he was diagnosed back in 1991.

Fox Nearly Loses His Finger

“I broke this shoulder — had it replaced. I broke this elbow. I broke this hand. I had an infection that almost cost me this finger. I broke my face. I broke this humerus,” Fox, 61, told Variety. “And that sucked.”

Fox went on to say that these days, he has “aides around me quite a bit of the time in case I fall, and that lack of privacy is hard to deal with.”

Fox is currently promoting his new documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, which dropped on Apple TV+ today.

“I’ve won more awards and had more nominations since I announced my diagnosis,” he said of his career. “It may be that people feel bad for me, but I prefer to look at it as an acknowledgment for continuing to have a legitimate career.”

Related: Michael J. Fox Refuses To Give Up Despite ‘Intense Pain’ From Parkinson’s – ‘I’m Not Going Anywhere’

Fox Loses His Comedic Timing

Fox was forced to officially retire from acting in 2020, saying that he was doing so because he was starting to struggle to remember his lines, according to Entertainment Tonight. He feels that one of the worst things that he’s lost is the comedic timing that made him so famous in the 1980s.

“I sometimes have a fleeting moment of disappointment when a really great joke comes out and lands flat because people can’t understand what I’m saying,” he lamented. “It’s not like you can just repeat it. It’s dead on arrival. But you find ways to navigate it.”

Despite his situation, Fox tries to stay positive and focus on spending time with his family.

“I’m still happy to join the day and be a part of things,” he said. “I just enjoy the little math problems of existence. I love waking up and figuring that stuff out and at the same time being with my family.”

“My problem is I fall down. I trip over things and fall down and break things,” he continued. “And that’s part of having this. But I hope that, and I feel that, I won’t break as many bones tomorrow. So that’s being optimistic.”

Related: Michael J. Fox Admits He Doesn’t Have Long To Live Amidst Parkinson’s Battle – ‘I’m Not Going To Be 80’

Fox’s Philanthropy

Fox launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000, and it has since raised over $1.5 billion for Parkinson’s research. Though Fox is widely praised for his philanthropic efforts, he’s nothing but humble in response.

“It’s just a nice way of people letting me know they are moved by my acceptance of things and by the way that I’ve tried to make a difference,” he admitted.

“But no matter how much I sit here and talk to you about how I’ve philosophically accepted it and taken its weight, Parkinson’s is still kicking my ass. I won’t win at this. I will lose,” he concluded. “But, there’s plenty to be gained in the loss.”

God bless Fox for continuing to use his own difficult situation to help others. If you want to find out more about this incredible man, be sure to check out his new documentary on Apple+!