Michael J. Fox Shines at US Open, Embodies Resilience Amid Parkinson's Battle

Amid his ongoing struggle with Parkinson's disease, Michael J. Fox delivered a powerful and uplifting presence at the 2025 US Open.

On Sunday, September 7, the 64-year-old Fox was transported in a wheelchair to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York for the fifteenth day of the prestigious tennis tournament. However, a video posted on Instagram by NYC influencer Mickey Blank captured him rising to pose for photographs alongside his wife, Tracy Pollan, on the blue carpet.

The acclaimed Back to the Future actor was dressed in blue trousers and a complementary blazer, layered over a crisp white collared shirt, accessorized with dark sunglasses and gray athletic shoes. His wife, Pollan, 65, whom he wed in 1988, opted for a light pink floral maxidress, paired with beige heels and a coordinating handbag.

Following the photo opportunity, Fox resumed his seat in the wheelchair, offering a wave to the waiting photographers before proceeding into the venue.

Michael J. Fox Reflects on an Enduring Romance with Tracy Pollan

In 1991, at the age of 29, Fox received a Parkinson's diagnosis after symptoms emerged during the production of Doc Hollywood. However, he publicly disclosed his condition only in 1998. Subsequently, in 2000, he founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, dedicated to propelling advancements in finding a cure for the illness.

During his A Country Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s musical charity gala in April 2024, Fox shared his thoughts on enduring Parkinson's for over three decades.

He shared with Entertainment Tonight, “Having been diagnosed for around 35 years, this is simply my reality, and I don’t dwell on it often. I barely give it a thought. My focus is primarily on how we, as a collective, can unravel this mystery and discover a cure – or, failing a cure, establish truly innovative treatment facilities.”

Fox elaborated, “For me personally, it’s an intrinsic part of my identity, the way I am made. I’m not exclusively seeking answers for myself; rather, I’m striving to understand it for the benefit of everyone else. Ultimately, it simply is what it is. My journey through life has been remarkable, and it continues to be so. Despite all the adversities, it also brings forth a wealth of positive experiences.”

His condition prompted Fox to step back from a full-time acting career in 2020. In an interview with AARP Magazine the subsequent year, he explained, "I sustained my acting career for nearly three decades post-diagnosis. Eventually, I got to a stage where my speech became unpredictable, making comfortable acting impossible. Consequently, I retired from it last year.”

Michael J. Fox Contemplates Life's End While Battling Parkinson's

Currently, Fox is scheduled to appear in a television series for the first time since his retirement, joining the cast of Shrinking season 3, slated for release on AppleTV+ in late 2025 or early 2026. Series co-creator Bill Lawrence disclosed that Fox's personal struggle with Parkinson's served as the creative impetus for Harrison Ford’s character, Dr. Paul Rhoades, and his experience with the disease.

Lawrence, 55, informed People in December 2024, “It’s rewarding to now have the opportunity to write about subjects that resonate with me. Furthermore, Michael J. Fox has always been a primary mentor to me. Therefore, our aim was to portray his story in a manner that is uplifting and avoids any sense of sorrow or despair.”