Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 2026 Emmy Awards on September 14, earning a standing ovation as he was honored for his advocacy and philanthropic work supporting Parkinson’s disease research. Fox attended the ceremony with his wife, Tracy Pollan, marking the couple’s first appearance at the Emmys in 13 years.
Fox, who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at age 29 and publicly revealed his diagnosis in 1998, reflected on initially keeping his condition private because he feared it could affect his career and relationship with audiences.
He credited the support he received after going public with helping him continue his work and discussed the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s efforts to advance Parkinson’s research. During his speech, Fox also said researchers are “close” to finding a cure for the disease.
Indeed, you probably remember him as Marty McFly from the 'Back to the Future' franchise, but Michael J. Fox is much more than his iconic movie character. An accomplished actor, Fox has found great success in both film and TV. He's famously a sufferer of Parkinson's disease, and has been an a active voice in raising awareness about the illness for decades. But how well do you really know him?
Click through the following gallery and learn more about the Hollywood star.