Michael J. Fox shares how his 'dark humor' helps him with Parkinson's

Michael J. Fox opened up about navigating life with Parkinson’s disease and the role of dark humor at the A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s gala on Saturday.

The Back to the Future actor, 63, admitted that maintaining a darker sense of humor is 'hard' for him, though he makes a concerted effort to 'keep it intact' in the face of adversity, according to People.

The star was first diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's at just 30 years of age in 1991, when he was filming Doc Hollywood. 

Reflecting on the impact of humor during those challenging times, he shared his appreciation for how dark humor can help 'bypass taboos and break down barriers' when tackling difficult conversations.

'Let’s embrace that and make a difference,' he added.

The Family Ties alum was accompanied by his stunning wife, Tracy Pollan, and a glamorous guest list that included the legendary Stevie Nicks.

This candid discussion comes on the heels of a heartfelt moment last week when Fox received a standing ovation at the Rhode Island Comic Con. 

Joined arm-in-arm with his Back to the Future co-star Lea Thompson, the actor was celebrated alongside fellow cast members Christopher Lloyd and Thomas F. Wilson. 

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The beloved cast also participated in a Q&A session at the event, reminiscing about the iconic 1985 film and its blockbuster sequels released in 1989 and 1990.

Michael starred as the teenage Marty McFly in the iconic science fiction film.

At Comic-Con, he reflected on the project nearly four decades after its release. 

I didn’t know what the hell I was getting into," he said, adding that Back to the Future is 'one of the few perfect films.'

Lea, who played Marty's mom, Lorraine, recalled her first reaction to the script. 'When I read the script, I was blown away. So from that moment, I thought there was something special,' she said.

Lea also expressed how grateful she feels to have been part of the film. 'I feel lucky to have been part of it,' she shared.

Fox first revealed his Parkinson's diagnosis in 1998 and, two years later, established The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000.

Since then, the foundation—founded alongside his wife of 36 years, Tracy —has raised over $2 billion for Parkinson's research.

In 2023, the foundation celebrated a major breakthrough: research funded by the organization identified a biomarker that can detect Parkinson's before symptoms appear, a milestone Fox was deeply proud of.

'It was one of the few times I cried about what we were doing. We wanted to find a way to diagnose the disease before the symptoms are there,' he shared with People. 

'Because then we could treat it, and you'd never have it. It was a big break—and a great moment,' he admitted.