Michael J. Fox was recognized in his native Canada on Friday, receiving the country’s highest civilian distinction for his lifetime of achievement and service.
The 65-year-old actor and activist was appointed a companion of the Order of Canada, the organization’s highest rank.
Fox attended the investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, where he posed with Canada’s governor general, Louise Arbour, after accepting the honor.
He stood for the national anthem and later joined the official photo opportunity at the ceremony, months after dismissing reports of his death that arose from a major CNN error earlier this year.
According to CTV News, Fox was elevated to companion in recognition of his “powerful global advocacy and unflinching honesty about Parkinson’s.”
Fox has lived with Parkinson’s disease since 1991. Since publicly revealing his diagnosis in 1998, he has helped raise more than $3 billion through the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Michael J. Fox received Canada’s highest civilian honor on Friday for his lifetime of achievement and service to the country
The 65-year-old actor and activist was named a companion of the Order of Canada, the organization’s highest rank
Parkinson’s disease is a nervous-system movement disorder that may lead to tremors, stiffness, slowed movement and balance problems, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The condition can produce serious motor and non-motor symptoms that worsen over time, potentially having a significant effect on a person’s quality of life.
Fox, who rose to international fame in the Back to the Future film franchise, has spoken openly for years about the challenges of living with Parkinson’s and has shared deeply personal experiences of the disease.
The popular television star, who was born in Edmonton, Alberta, was one of 51 people inducted into or promoted within the Order of Canada.
Only weeks earlier, Fox traveled to Los Angeles for the Emmy Awards, where he received the Hope Humanitarian Award.
In September, he also revealed that he had returned to acting sooner than expected, despite Parkinson’s having affected his “ability to memorize lines.”
He said his role in Shrinking enabled him to “show up on set” as himself and offered him a path back to performing.
Fox attended the awards ceremony with his entire family and delivered an emotional speech after accepting the humanitarian honor.
Fox attended the investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa and posed with Canada’s governor general, Louise Arbour, after receiving the honor
He stood during the national anthem and the official photo opportunity, following reports of his death that resulted from a major CNN error earlier this year
Fox was named a companion in recognition of his “powerful global advocacy and unflinching honesty about Parkinson’s”
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The Edmonton-born television star was among 51 people inducted into or promoted within the Order of Canada
Fox has lived with Parkinson’s since 1991 and has helped raise more than $3 billion since publicly announcing his diagnosis in 1998, according to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
In his acceptance speech, Fox reflected on being diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 29 in the early 1990s and explained why he concealed his condition from Hollywood for nearly a decade.
He said the late entertainer Bob Hope had taught him the value of selflessness, lessons that ultimately helped prepare him for the devastating diagnosis.
“I couldn’t have known how these lessons would resonate in my own life, until my late 20s, when my life handed me a role I wasn’t looking for.”
Describing the early years of his illness, he said, “Initially I kept my Parkinson’s diagnosis a secret. I worried it would affect my work and relationships with audiences.”
Fox also acknowledged that he feared fans might wonder, “Would they laugh if they knew I was sick?”
He said the support of fans around the world gave him the strength to continue, explaining, “I was stunned by the support from all of you, so uplifted, and I hadn’t lost what I do. They couldn’t take it away from me. And it’s because you stood up for me. I appreciate it.”
“I understood that accepting Parkinson’s didn’t mean I had to surrender to it. It just meant I had to do everything I could for everyone living with this disease. I set out to advocate for Parkinson’s disease and raise money. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made to benefit Parkinson’s patients and families.”
At the Emmys, Fox also received his 19th overall Emmy nomination for his guest appearance on Shrinking.
Weeks earlier, Fox attended the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, where he received the Hope Humanitarian Award
In his acceptance speech, Fox discussed his Parkinson’s diagnosis at 29 and explained why he kept his health struggle private from Hollywood for years
In September, Fox revealed that he had returned to acting earlier than expected despite Parkinson’s affecting his “ability to memorize lines”
The five-time Emmy winner recently discussed his return to the set of Shrinking, where he appears alongside Harrison Ford and Nicole Kidman.
Fox initially retired in 2000, two years after going public with his diagnosis. He later made cameo appearances on television shows including Scrubs and The Good Wife, but took another break from acting in 2020.
Speaking to People, Fox explained the decision, saying, “A new variable emerged: my ability to memorize lines. There’s a time for everything, and the time for 12-hour workdays was behind me.”
He joined the Harrison Ford-led series Shrinking for its third season earlier this year.
The Apple TV series was created by Fox’s friend Bill Lawrence. Fox said he valued the freedom to “use how I feel on any given day and channel it into the scene.”
In the series, Fox plays Gerry, who forms a friendship with Ford’s character, Dr. Paul Rhoades, as the doctor navigates his own Parkinson’s diagnosis.
