Michael J. Fox is returning to NBC this fall with a new comedy based loosely on his own life experiences with Parkinson's disease.
Fox, 51, is returning to the network that made him famous — he starred in the '80s hit NBC sitcom "Family Ties" — with a new show about a New York anchorman whose life is turned upside down when he's diagnosed with Parkinson's, the neurological disorder Fox has battled for more than 20 years.
"It's based loosely on my experiences," Fox told Access Hollywood. "And I don't want to say too much because I don't want my kids to think every time a kid does something goofy on the show that it's a reflection on them."
Special: Should the Supreme Court Legalize Gay Marriage? Vote in Urgent Poll.
Fox said it would be impossible to create a show without addressing his personal struggles.
"Well, I don't have a choice… But my personal life — you can sit and project out and say, 'Oh, I'm going to have this and it's going to be like this and I won't be able to do that.' But it's much more about right now. 'What can I do right now?' Right?" he said. "I just thought, I love to do this and as much as anyone will let me do it and give me their time to do it — I should do it. And so, I'm doing it."
The show will be Fox's first full-time role on television since he left "Spin City" in 2001.
Fox learned he had Parkinson's in 1991, but didn’t go public with his diagnosis until 1999. He has since been a devoted advocate for research to find a cure for the illness. This month, he's teaming up with the famed Magnolia Bakery in New York City to raise money for his Michael J. Fox Foundation. The bakery has created a special cupcake to celebrate Parkinson's Awareness Month.
Urgent: Obama or GOP: Who’s to Blame for Budget Crisis? Vote Now
Related stories:
Michael J. Fox to Taylor Swift: Please Don't Date My Son Sam
Michael J. Fox Named Honorary Doctor in Sweden
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.