The Emotional Meeting Between Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd
There are a number of legendary film duos. One of the most iconic was that of Michael J.Fox and Christopher Lloyd. Indeed, nobody can deny that Back to the Future, the classic movie that Robert Zemeckis directed back in 1985, has left an indelible mark on our pop culture. However, an even greater imprint was left by its protagonists, the unforgettable Marty McFly and Doc Brown.
Recently, 37 years after the premiere of the trilogy, came an unexpected gift. On October 9 2022, a Comic Con was held in New York. It took place at Javits Convention Center where an emotional meeting took place between the two performers to commemorate the date and talk about the franchise. The two performers, aged 61 and 83, respectively, received a lengthy standing ovation as soon as they appeared on stage.
However, naturally, all eyes were on Michael J. Fox who, almost unable to walk and dominated by lack of coordination, didn’t hesitate to hug his old partner. The Parkinson’s that he was diagnosed with when he was only 29, has greatly advanced. That said, his attitude and sparkling sense of humor are still intact, compensating for the coordination that his body sadly lacks.
“Parkinson’s is the gift that keeps on taking—but it’s a gift, and I wouldn’t change it for anything. People like Chris have been there a lot for me, and so many of you have. It’s not about what I have, it’s about what I’ve been given—the voice to get this done, and help people out.”
-Michael J. Fox-
The meeting between Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, a magical moment
Blue jeans, sneakers, and a casual air. Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd appeared before their fans in similar outfits. Although the real harmony was in their gestures, in the words exchanged between them that escaped the microphones, and in their restrained yet heart-warming emotions.
The New York Comic Con hosted a discussion panel on the legacy of Back to the Future. The presence of its protagonists left fans surprised and excited. Social media began to share the scene and, in a few seconds, it was seen all over the world.
It was impossible to tear our eyes away from Michael J.Fox, who, with his overwhelming humor played down his obvious problems with coordination, balance, and speech. He joked over the gum that escaped from his mouth and emphatically insisted that Parkinson’s was the best thing that had ever happened to him. In fact, he sees his purpose now as none other than to give voice to this disease so he can help other sufferers.
Optimism is sustainable when you keep coming back to gratitude, and what follows from that is acceptance.”
-Michael J. Fox-
He felt the first tremor when he was 29
Michael J.Fox was shooting the movie Doc Hollywood when he felt a tremor in the little finger of his left hand. He was 29 years old and didn’t pay too much attention to it. However, more tremors followed, along with stiffness in the hips. It wasn’t long before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He knew, from that moment on, that his life would change, and, with difficulty, he prepared himself.
He didn’t make his illness public until 1998 when he underwent a thalamotomy to control the tremors. In addition, he began taking the drug, Sinemet which allowed him to regulate the symptoms. From that moment on, he stopped drinking, improved his lifestyle, and created a foundation bearing his name for Parkinson’s research. It didn’t take long for him to become, according to the New York Times, the most relevant voice in the defense of this condition.
It’s currently the largest nonprofit funder of drug development for Parkinson’s disease.
Michael J. Fox has raised more than a billion dollars to help find a cure for Parkinson’s through his foundation.
Retired from acting, but not from activism
In November 2020, Michael announced his withdrawal from acting due to the obvious complications derived from Parkinson’s. However, his film and television career couldn’t be more extensive. In fact, he’s received numerous awards, has several doctorates from various universities, and has written three books: Lucky Man: A Memoir (2002), Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (2009), and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned (2010).
He regrets not being able to play the guitar like before and that his memory no longer allows him to continue in the world of acting. However, despite this fact, and the dark moments he’s experienced, he declares he’s optimistic and highly aware of his purpose in life. That’s to continue fighting to find a cure for Parkinson’s or treatments that improve the quality of life of patients.
A friendship that goes beyond time and space
“The chemistry between us was there from the first scene we had,” Christopher Lloyd said of Michael at Comic Con.“ It was alive and it remained that way for three movies. It hasn’t gone away, by the way”, he continued.
The two actors laughed and shared anecdotes during the New York event. Indeed, their friendship is still evident. They may have left the figures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown far behind, but the fun and spark between them are still in evidence.
Neither the years nor Michael’s illness has overshadowed the charm of this partnership. Therefore, we look forward to more future meetings and events that demonstrate that eternal friendships exist, along with people who continue to inspire us.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Fox, J. Michael (2003) Lucky Man: A Memoir. Hyperion-Acquired Assets