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Michael J. Fox is an actor, and a beloved one at that!
The 32nd Annual Actor Awards (formerly the SAG Awards) took place on Sunday, March 1, and before host Kristen Bell took the stage to sing a killer monologue, select SAG-AFTRA members from the audience shared their traditional “I Am An Actor” stories.
Kristen Wiig kicked things off, Teyana Taylor followed, Delroy Lindo took the mic, and Kate Hudson reflected on her acting origin story. But the loudest applause went to surprise speaker Michael J. Fox, award-winning actor, author, and Parkinson’s advocate — who was diagnosed with the disease in 1991 at age 29.
“When I left school and moved from Canada to LA to try to make it as an actor, a teacher of mine told me, ‘Fox, you’re not gonna be cute forever,'” the still cute actor shared. “I didn’t know what to say to that. So I said, ‘Maybe just long enough, sir. After a few years of dumpster diving in LA, I ended up on Family Ties where I received the biggest gift of my career. I met my wife, the actor Tracy Pollan, played Ellen, my girlfriend. And she gave me four gifts: our kids, Skylar, Aquinnah, Esmé, and Sam. Sometimes I like to remind them if it weren’t for acting, they wouldn’t be here.”
Fox then gestured to his son Sam, seated next to him, and said, “By the way. He’s not an actor. He’s just my date. My name is Michael J. Fox, and a dad. And I’m an actor.” And an absolute icon!
Photo: NetflixFox recently came out of retirement to guest star on Shrinking Season 3 and reunite with co-creator and close pal Bill Lawrence, who he collaborated with on Spin City and Scrubs. As Season 3 shows Paul’s (Harrison Ford) Parkinson’s symptoms progress, he befriends Fox’s character Gerry, a Parkinson’s patient whose disease is further along than Shrinking‘s resident grumpy therapist. In true Shrinking fashion, Gerry’s humor still remained in tact, which allowed Fox to brilliantly flex his comedic chops.
“I just want to I want to tell you this. There is no one better. Michael J. Fox has the best timing of any comedic actor that I’ve ever worked with,” Shrinking‘s Christa Miller told DECIDER over Zoom.
Photo: Apple TV“A lot of us stayed around afterwards just to watch [his scenes]. Michael and I have had these careers where when I was at Paramount, he was at Paramount. Family Ties and Happy Days. And I would see him all over the place, but never really had a chance to sit down and talk to him,” Shrinking‘s Ted McGinley told Decider. “They’ve raised $2 billion in 25 years for the Parkinson’s Foundation. Michael J. Fox has done that. I mean, he is a force. I have infinite respect for him. So many people across the world are going to benefit because Michael had Parkinson’s. He’s so generous.”
The booming applause made it incredibly clear how joyous Fox’s fellow actors were to have him in the room, and his presence is even more special since his Shrinking co-star Ford is being honored with the Life Achievement Award. Two living legends sharing a special night together? We absolutely love to see it.
The 32nd Annual Actor Awards stream live Sunday, March 1, on Netflix.
English (US)