Michael J. Fox was forced to deny rumors of his death after CNN mistakenly published an article and video titled: “Remembering the life of actor Michael J. Fox”. The 64-year-old, who recently appeared in the third season of Shrinking alongside Harrison Ford and Jason Segel, was thought to have passed away after CNN published the package.
His representative clarified in a statement to TMZ on Wednesday that the beloved actor is still alive and well. “Michael is doing great,” they said. “He was at PaleyFest yesterday. He was on stage and was giving interviews.”
CNN’s package has now been taken down, and the outlet shared an apology shortly thereafter. “The package was published in error; we have removed it from our platforms and send our apologies to Michael J. Fox and his family.”
Michael joined Jason and Harrison at PaleyFest on Tuesday for the season three wrap party of Shrinking and said he would gladly return for another season of the show.
The star’s role in the series, which follows a grieving therapist who begins to tell his clients what he really thinks, marks Michael’s first TV role since he retired from full-time acting in 2020.
He portrays Gerry, a Parkinson’s patient who meets Harrison’s character Paul at the doctor’s office. Michael was first diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease in 1991, and publicly revealed his diagnosis to the world in 1998.
See Michael at PaleyFest below…
He has since worked tirelessly to raise money and awareness of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s can manifest in symptoms like tremors, stiffness, slowness of movement and poor balance.
Learn more about Michael’s diagnosis…
“I continued to act for almost 30 years after I was diagnosed. 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,” he told AARP Magazine in 2021.
Despite his retirement, Michael made an unexpected appearance at the AACTA Awards back in March, alongside his 36-year-old son, Sam. During the show, he paid tribute to his wife of almost 38 years, Tracy Pollan, whom he met on set in 1985.
© Apple TV“When I left school and moved from Canada to LA to make it as an actor, a teacher of mine told me, ‘Fox, you’re not gonna be cute forever’,” the Back to the Future star began. “I didn’t know what to say to that, so I said: “Maybe just long enough, sir,”‘ he said.
© Getty Images“After two years of dumpster diving in LA, I ended up on Family Ties, where I received the biggest gift of my career. I met my wife, the actor Tracy Pollan, who played my girlfriend Ellen.”
“She gave me four gifts: our kids, Skyler, Aquinnah, Esmé, and Sam. Sometimes I like to think if it wasn’t for acting, they wouldn’t be here,” he concluded.
Read the full article here
