Michael J. Fox has opened up about his marriage to Tracy Pollan, revealing he wouldn't have blamed her if she had wanted to "step out" of their marriage due to his decades-long battle with Parkinson's disease.
The Back To The Future star, 62, was just 29 years old when he was first diagnosed with the condition, which affects balance and coordination and is often characterized by involuntary movements, and which progresses and worsens over time.
He first became aware something was wrong when he noticed a twitching in his little finger in 1991, and initially coped with the diagnosis by drinking heavily, before quitting and going public with the news in 1998.
Throughout all of it, his wife, Pollan, has been by his side in their 35-year marriage, but the actor admitted he would have understood if it had been too much for her to live with.
Fox made a personal appearance at his Parkinson's charity event - the Michael J. Fox Foundation Hosts A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson's event - in New York on Saturday alongside Pollan, 63, their son Sam Michael, 34, and twin daughters Aquinnah Kathleen and Schuyler Frances, 28. Their daughter Esmé Annabelle, 21, did not appear to be present on the night.
Days before the family outing, Fox had spoken out about his and Pollan's enduring love, and how he'd have understood if she'd called time on their marriage due to his health struggles.
He told CBS Mornings on Thursday: "At any time she would have been forgiven to say, 'I'm just gonna step out.' But, she didn't do that."
Fox acknowledged how difficult it has been for Pollan to cope with his illness, adding: "I love Tracy obviously and she's an amazing person and has gone through a lot.
"I realize she has a life separate from me having Parkinson's, from me being Alex Keaton or Marty McFly, she's a person. I think that's why it's gone okay."
He revealed: "She had indicated to me by saying, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. She was able to get me through it, and go through it with me. And she has for 35 years."
Fox added: "We knew the bus was coming and we knew it was going to hit, but we didn't know how far away it was or how fast it was going."
The couple celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in July, as Fox wrote on Instagram: "35 years of laugher, living, listening and loving you @tracy.pollan. Thank you for it all. Forever yours, Mike."
Pollan shared her own tribute, writing: "35 years!!! Happy anniversary my love. Here's to many more glorious adventures together. I could not love you more."
Fox established his own foundation to fund research into early diagnosis and a potential cure for Parkinson's disease, which is currently incurable.
The foundation, which has so far donated $2 billion towards its work, has made some big breakthroughs in its research in regards to early detection.
Throughout his hardships, Fox has remained upbeat, however, he admitted: "The positivity is really sincere, I really feel it, and it's genuine. But it's hard-fought and it's hard-won, I should say."
Revealing how he and Pollan get through it, he added: "We can find ways to just give ourselves a break, give ourselves credit for getting through life on life's terms.
"And in order to do that, you have to stop and say, 'It's not that bad; it's not that bad'... they say the absence of fear is faith."
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