Michael J. Fox has long lived with the consequences of his Parkinson’s disease struggle, yet he remains as stubborn as ever in the face of great difficulty.

Since his diagnosis in the early 1990s, the now-retired actor has become the face of the struggle against the crippling disease and dedicated himself to encouraging research and awareness.

Recently, the Back to the Future star has been open about his battles with the disease, acknowledging that his health is deteriorating and declaring that he doesn’t think he’ll live to be 80.

Historically, the 61-year-old has projected positivity about his Parkinson’s diagnosis, but he has never hidden the toll it has had on his health and well-being.

In a recent interview, Fox addressed his mortality, noting that living with Parkinson’s disease was “getting tougher.”

“I’m not going to lie. It’s becoming increasingly difficult. “Things are getting tougher,” Fox said to CBS Sunday Morning anchor Jane Pauley.

“Every day is harder. But, but, that’s just how it is. I mean, who do I talk to about that?”

He also mentioned that he had just undergone spinal surgery after a tumor on his spine was discovered. While it was harmless, it impaired his ability to walk and caused him to fall: “[I] broke this arm, and I broke this arm, and I broke this arm, and I broke this elbow. I shattered my nose. “I broke my hand,” Fox said to Pauley.

“You do not die from Parkinson’s disease. “With Parkinson’s, you die,” Fox said. “I’ve been worried about its mortality… I’m not going to live to be 80. I’m not going to live to be 80.”

Fox’s battle with the brain disorder, which he was diagnosed with in 1991 after noticing a tremor in his pinkie finger, has once again come to the fore in the lead-up to the release of his new documentary Still, which chronicles the actor’s life over the past three decades.

According to sources, he says in the film, “I’m in a lot of pain. Each tremor is equivalent to a seismic shock.”

In a new interview with The Times, he expanded on the assertion, stating, “It’s not so much pain from movement as it is from not moving. When you freeze, that not-movement becomes loaded with all this energy and becomes this blazing, looming thing that never happens.

“I don’t want to bring out the violins. I’ve fractured my hand, elbow, humerus, other humerus, shoulder, face, and a few more bones. And the electricity of the tremors enhances everything. So, yeah, it is very painful. But you quickly discover that nobody gives a s—. It’s just a part of life. It makes no difference. You swallow it and go on. And it could have a story to tell. But that’s all. There is no chit that you may provide for a refund window.”

Fox, ever trying to remain hopeful despite his evident difficulties, gallantly stated that he is not “going anywhere.”

“The depression is not so deep that I’m going to injure myself,” claimed the actor, who technically resigned in 2021 due to poor health. It always gets back to the point where I say to myself, ‘Well, there’s more to celebrate in my life than to lament.’ The suffering speaks for itself. Either you tolerate it or you don’t. And I have no plans to leave.”

I don’t know about you, but Michael J. Fox’s resilience in the face of such adversity inspires me. He certainly is a star to look up to.

Watch Fox’s documentary trailer below (or click here):