I just finished watching Inside the Actors Studio with Michael J. Fox. I’ve only seen the show a handful of times, but I saw a preview for this one yesterday and made sure to record it. His first major role on Family Ties started before I was born and ended before I was really old enough to care about TV shows enough to know who starred in them. I remember him first from Back to the Future and it’s sequels which I still love. It’s one of the few DVD sets I own, and the movies are so timeless I can’t wait to enjoy them with my kids someday.

When Spin City came out I watched it all the time. It was consistently one of the funniest shows on TV. It was never as good once he left.

I remember how I felt when he finally announced to the world that he had Parkinson’s (after hiding it for five years). I remember how I couldn’t believe that the disease could affect someone so young who wasn’t the least bit deserving of it (not that anyone ever is). I was sad he was leaving his show, but I admired his courage.

Tonight he sat through most of the interview and you would barely know he’s affected at all. Just over halfway through his symptoms finally became visible and he left the stage to take another pill. Still, when he came back out he was able to make a joke out of it and talk openly about how it has affected him. The fact that he doesn’t let it limit his life is really amazing to me. He’s gone on to started a foundation for Parkinson’s research, written a book called Lucky Man, and still dreams of put something new on TV or directing a movie. He also had some very encouraging words for a young actress struggling with a similar disease:

What’s in my power, what’s in my control? Do I throw in the towel and have a tantrum about it or kill myself or what? None of those are acceptable solutions to me. The only one that’s acceptable is to go on and see what happens. And what I find is cool is there’s great stuff out there. When you walk through this stuff, when you walk through the fear, when you walk through what are people gonna think about it, you know, what’s gonna happen. Well something’s gonna happen. And we don’t know what it is, but chances are at least 50/50 that it’ll be pretty good. And so I’m willing to take that risk.

I think I’m gonna buy his book and make a donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Currently Playing: Surphace – Outlit