Michael J Fox rocks out to a Back To The Future-style performance at his Parkinson’s charity gala in NYC

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Michael J. Fox resembled his famous character, Marty McFly from Back to the Future, while enjoying a charity gala for his Parkinson’s foundation in New York.

The 64-year-old actor appeared on stage at his annual A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s Gala, which took place on Saturday.

Michael’s performance strongly recalled the iconic scene from the 1985 movie where McFly played his red Gibson guitar at the school dance.

Michael, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 when he was just 29, seemed much younger while playing the guitar.

After being diagnosed, the actor established the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000. The foundation’s purpose was to raise money for research aimed at finding a cure for his illness.

Michael made a rare public appearance with his wife, Tracy Pollan, and their four children at the event, following his performance.

Married in 1988, the couple have three children: a 36-year-old son named Sam, and daughters Aquinnah and Schuyler, both 30, and Esmé, who is 24.

‘They’re so supportive and so great,’ the longtime actor told People of his loved ones.

It’s wonderful seeing all these familiar faces – my friends and family. Walking the red carpet, I was a little surprised to see them, but then I realized there was no reason to be!

‘They’ve always been there for me, and they continue to be for me, year after year,’ he gushed.

Tracy added that their brood is ‘just incredibly supportive’ of their father. 

She shared with People that Michael’s positive attitude is great and beneficial, but it’s also crucial to remember he’s facing a significant hurdle.

This is a really tough situation for everyone involved – the patient, their family, and those providing care. It’s important to recognize that it’s not simple, and it’s incredibly challenging. Despite this, they continue to be present and supportive.

The fundraiser, supporting the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s work on Parkinson’s Research, took place at Cipriani South Street, located within Casa Cipriani.

Michael and Tracy co-chaired the gala, a fundraising event named ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s’.

Denis Leary hosted the evening, with Jackson Browne taking the stage as a musical guest.

Nikki Glaser and Jon Stewart had the audience laughing with their jokes. Guests included well-known personalities like Christina Geist, Katie Couric, and Meg Ryan.

Since its launch in 2000, the Michael J. Fox Foundation has put $2.5 billion into finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

Michael shared with People magazine in October how much he appreciated their progress, saying, ‘You really don’t realize the effort involved until you see everything that went into it.’ He expressed feeling very happy with what they had accomplished and seeing things move forward.

Michael is coming back to television despite having said he’d retire from acting in 2020.

In May, it was announced that he’ll be appearing alongside Harrison Ford, age 83, in the third season of the popular AppleTV+ show, Shrinking.

Even after being diagnosed in the early 1990s, Michael J. Fox continued his acting career, appearing on the TV shows Spin City (1996-2001) and The Good Wife (2010-2016).

Harrison shared with People earlier this year that having him on the show is incredibly inspiring and gives the team a strong sense of direction.

The veteran actor, now in his eighties, portrays Dr. Paul Rhodes, a therapist on television, who is also dealing with a Parkinson’s diagnosis of his own.

He emphasized that their collaboration wasn’t simply about two actors working together, but about a shared dedication to bringing a story to life. He expressed his gratitude for the other actor’s commitment to the project.

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2025-11-17 15:07