Michael J. Fox reflects on his commitment to eliminating Parkinson’s disease after being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
On Saturday, January 4, Back to the future the actor was one of a series of individuals to be awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor at the White House by President Joe Biden.
The 63-year-old later shared photos from the event on Instagram, expressing his gratitude.
“On behalf of the million or more people living with Parkinson’s disease and the millions more who love them, I am proud and honored to accept the Medal of Freedom from President Biden,” he wrote. “There’s no question that I get the most attention in the PD community, but this is our fight, and support and recognition at this level is a huge boost.”
“I still believe with all my heart that we will eliminate Parkinson’s disease and that everyone who joined the fight will have a part in the victory,” he added. “Thank you. With hope and gratitude, Michael J. Fox.”
Michael J. Fox, Denzel Washington, Hillary Clinton and more win Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden: See photos
Michael J. Fox with his family after being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Joe Biden.
Michael J Fox/Instagram
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The Presidential Medal of Freedom “is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, to world peace, or to other significant social, public, or private endeavors,” the White House said.
“President Biden believes that great leaders keep the faith, give everyone a fair chance, and put decency above all else. These nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made America and the world a better place,” the White House added. “They are great leaders because they are good people who have made an extraordinary contribution to their country and to the world.”
Fox was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991, and his diagnosis went public in 1998. Two years later, he established the Michael J. Fox Foundation to aid research. To date, the organization has raised nearly two billion dollars in its quest for a cure for the disease — and they’ve made significant progress: In 2023, they found a biomarker that can help determine whether people have Parkinson’s disease before symptoms begin.
“It was one of the few times I cried because of what we were doing,” Fox told PEOPLE in April 2024. “We wanted to find a way to diagnose the disease before symptoms appeared. Because then we could treat it , and you’d never have it. It was a big break — and a great moment.”
Michael J. Fox on Keeping a Dark Sense of Humor Amid Parkinson’s Disease: ‘I Gotta Keep It Intact’ (Exclusive)
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Michael J. Fox.
Terry Wyatt/Getty
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Reflecting on the vulnerable moment when he went public with his diagnosis on the cover of PEOPLE magazine, Fox admitted he was “nervous” going into it, but the effect was immediate — and huge.
“It was an amazing time because the turnout was great,” he recalled. “The response has been so loving and supportive, and I really couldn’t have been… It was a reward for all the things I’ve done over the years.”
“I’m proud that I had the courage to talk about this and be out there with it,” he said at the time. “And PEOPLE took it seriously and treated it with a sense of gravity and importance. Because it’s real – itnot me—I changed the world a little.”
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