By Megan Riedlinger
7:30pm PDT, May 12, 2023
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As "STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie" premieres on Apple TV+ on May 12, 2023, join us as we take a look at the celebrities who've faced Parkinson's disease, a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder…
Michael J. Fox — one of the most famous activists in the search for a cure for the disease — has been incredibly open about his battle with Parkinson's. He was diagnosed at 29 in 1991 but didn't publicly share his news until 1998, after which he started the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. (In 2022 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences bestowed him with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar, for his tireless work on behalf of those with the condition.) For decades, Michael continued to act, but in 2020, the "Family Ties" and "Back to the Future" franchise star retired from his craft, explaining to AARP The Magazine in 2021, "I reached the point where I couldn't rely on my ability to speak on any given day, which meant I couldn't act comfortably at all anymore. So last year I gave it up."
In an interview with "CBS Sunday Morning" celebrating the May 2023 release of "Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie" — an Apple TV+ documentary about his life — the star was incredibly frank. "I'm not gonna lie, it's getting harder. It's getting tougher. Every day gets tougher," he said of living with Parkinson's. "But that's the way it is. I mean, who do I see about that?" Michael, who was 61 at the time, also spoke about the realities of the disease, explaining that falling "is a big killer with Parkinson's. Falling and aspirating food and getting pneumonia — all these subtle ways that get you," he said, adding, "You don't die from Parkinson's; you die with Parkinson's. So I've been thinking of the mortality of it. I'm not going to be 80. I'm not going to 80."
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Comedian Richard Lewis is retiring from stand-up after facing a series of health issues including a Parkinson's disease diagnosis, he announced in a video he shared on Twitter in April 2023. He explained that three and a half years earlier, he underwent four back-to-back surgeries on his back, shoulder and hip then faced physical therapy as he recovered. "[Then] two years ago, I started walking a little stiffly, I was shuffling my feet and I went to a neurologist and they gave me a brain scan. … I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease," the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star explained. "But luckily, I got it late in life and they say you progress very slowly if at all and I'm on the right meds so I'm cool," he added.
Richard further shared that he'd decided to step back from one area of his career. "I'm finished with stand-up. I'm just focusing on writing and acting [now]," he explained. "I have Parkinson's disease but I'm under a doctor's care and everything is cool. I love my wife, I love my little puppy dog and I love all my friends and my fans."
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In 2020, rock star Ozzy Osbourne publicly announced that he has Parkinson's disease. He later revealed he'd been diagnosed with the nervous system disorder that affects movement many years prior — in 2003 — and had kept it a secret from his fans. Though he's since stopped touring amid a slew of medical issues, Ozzy has continued to perform and make music. "I'm not dying from Parkinson's," Ozzy told The Los Angeles Times. "I've been working with it most of my life. I've cheated death so many times. If tomorrow you read, 'Ozzy Osbourne never woke up this morning,' you wouldn't go, 'Oh, my God!' You'd go, 'Well, it finally caught up with him.'"
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Alan Alda, best known for his work on "MASH," revealed in 2018 that he'd been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. "I decided to let people know I have Parkinson's to encourage others to take action," he shared on Twitter. I was diagnosed 3 and a half years ago, but my life is full. I act, I give talks, I do my podcast, which I love. If you get a diagnosis, keep moving!" Alan explained that he continued to enjoy his favorite activities, writing, "I take boxing lessons 3 days a week, play singles tennis twice a week, and take a mild pill — all Dr. recommended. I even juggle a little. And I'm not entering dementia. I'm no more demented than I was before. Maybe I should rephrase that. Really, I'm good."
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Music legend Neil Diamond retired from touring in 2018, revealing that he'd been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He put out a statement on his website that read, "It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years." Despite ending his concert treks, he promised to continue to make music. Since then, he's given a few rare performances including one at the Keep Memory Alive Power of Love Gala in 2020 and another in 2022 when he sang "Sweet Caroline" during the eighth inning of a Red Sox baseball game.
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Linda Ronstadt's singing career came to an end in 2009 due to a Parkinson's disease diagnosis that she later learned was a rare condition called progressive supranuclear palsy, which is similar to Parkinson's and has no known cure. The musician shared her news with AARP The Magazine in 2013, revealing, "I didn't know why I couldn't sing — all I knew was that it was muscular or mechanical. Then when I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, I was finally given the reason. I now understand that no one can sing with Parkinson's disease. No matter how hard you try. And in my case, I can't sing a note." She later told CNN's Anderson Cooper in 2020 how her diagnosis had changed, explaining that it took her doctor "about a year after that to come to the [Parkinson's] diagnosis and then took a little bit longer to come to supranuclear palsy."
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Scottish actor Billy Connolly, who's appeared a wide range of films from "The Boondock Saints" to "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events," announced he was battling initial symptoms of Parkinson's disease back in 2013. The news came the same time he underwent surgery for prostate cancer and led to his retirement from acting in 2018. Two years later, he appeared in an ITV documentary about his life, "Billy Connolly: It's Been a Pleasure," where he opened up about his health battles, explaining, "It's got me, it will get me and it will end me, but that's OK with me. I am not defined by it."
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Politician and minister Jesse Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017, sharing that he'd been battling the condition for about three years at that point.
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Pope John Paul II — who's now a saint — suffered from Parkinson's disease in the final years of his life. Though the Vatican only publicly acknowledged it in 2003 — two years before the pontiff's death — a book written by the pope's personal physician of more than 25 years, Dr. Renato Buzzonetti, revealed that the Catholic leader had actually been diagnosed in 1991 and the Vatican kept the religious leader's condition a secret for 12 years.
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Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali made his Parkinson's disease diagnosis public in 1984 — three years after he retired from his sport. He didn't let it slow down his public appearances, continuing to be an active public figure up until a few years before his death in 2016.
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British actor Bob Hoskins retired from acting in 2012 after his Parkinson's diagnosis. His reps confirmed the health news, sharing in a statement, "Bob Hoskins wishes to announce that he will be retiring from acting, following his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease last autumn. He wishes to thank all the great and brilliant people he has worked with over the years, and all of his fans who have supported him during a wonderful career." Bob passed away in 2014.
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Maurice White — the founder, leader and main songwriter of Earth, Wind & Fire — was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1992 at 51. He was forced to step back from touring with the group a few years later in 1995. Maurice passed away from complications of Parkinson's in 2016.
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Jeff Cook from the band Alabama battled Parkinson's disease late in his life. He revealed his diagnosis in 2017, explaining that he would no longer tour with the country music group. At that point, he'd already been suffering from the disease for five years. He passed away from complications with Parkinson's in 2022 at 73.
