Parkinson’s disease brought Oscar to actor Michael J. Fox
2022.11.20 05:52
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Parkinson’s disease brought Oscar to actor Michael J. Fox
Budrigannews.com – Actor Michael J. Fox, who captivated audiences with the 1980s tv comedy “Family Ties” and “Back to the Future” films, won an honorary Oscar on Saturday for his advocacy work that raised11.5 billion for Parkinson’s research.
Fox, 29, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder that causes tremors and other symptoms. He later scaled back his acting career and in 2000 founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to fund the search for a cure.
The Canadian actor said on stage at the Annual Governors Awards, where an a-list crowd of stars such as Tom Hanks and Jennifer Lawrence gave him a standing ovation, “Standing here and accepting your kindness is humbling in the deepest way.”
Fox said that the hardest part about his diagnosis was “tackling uncertainty,” and that he had kept his diagnosis private for years because “I didn’t know if the audience could laugh if I knew I was struggling.””
The 61-year-old Canadian actor was presented with the Jean Hirschholt Humanitarian Award by the Board of Directors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a group that awards Academy Awards, and was introduced by his friend Woody Harrelson.
“He turned a cold diagnosis into a courageous mission,” the “cheers” actor said.
Other winners of the Governor’s Award included Diane Warren, a prolific songwriter who has starred in more than 100 films.
The 66-year-old Warren has been nominated for 13 Academy Awards for Original Songs, but has not won.
“I’ve waited 34 years to say this: I want to thank the Academy,” Warren said to applause on Saturday.
Also honored were Australian director Peter Weir, known for films such as “Witness” and “Dead Poets Society,” and Euzhan Palcy, who became the first black woman to direct a film in a major Hollywood studio with “A Dry White Season.””
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