Michael J. Fox brought out not only the star power of A-list comedians but also his family's support at his latest fundraiser for Parkinson's research.
The 65-year-old "Back to the Future" star was flanked by his wife, Tracy Pollan, 66, and their three daughters – twins Aquinnah and Schuyler Fox, both 31, and Esmé Fox, 25 – at Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research's Nov. 14 event, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson's. The fundraiser reportedly raised a record-breaking $6 million.
The couple's 37-year-old son, Sam Fox, was absent for the occasion; however, he joined the family at the foundation's 2025 gala.
"I didn't know that there was so much talent from the people that were willing to devote their energy and resources
to finding a cure," Fox told Getty Images on the red carpet. "It surprised me, the scope of the help."
John Mayer and Brad Paisley headlined the evening of music and comedy, joining forces to perform acoustic versions of the former's hits like "Free Fallin'," "Waiting on the World to Change" and "Gravity." They were joined by Super Soul Banned, Tony-winning actress Shoshana Bean and No Doubt's Tom Dumont, who announced his early-onset Parkinson's diagnosis earlier this year, to close out the night with a rendition of "Johnny B. Goode" with Michael J. Fox.
Comedians Denis Leary, Stephen Colbert, David Letterman, John Oliver, Josh Johnson and Kylie Vincent also took the stage throughout the event.
"When I was diagnosed, my pinky was twitching. Seventy percent of the dopamine-producing cells in my brain were already gone," Michael J. Fox said on the red carpet. "It happens that quickly and really undetected, but if we can detect it, if we can test for it and find a way to treat it … it would save a lot of grief."
How old was Michael J. Fox when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's?
Fox wasn't always accepting of his diagnosis, which was discovered at age 29 after he noticed a tremor in his pinky finger in 1991. But by the time he let the world in on his chronic condition, he'd had the revelation that "I want to be part of the answer," the "Family Ties" alum told USA TODAY in July.
"I was diagnosed, and I went into a hidden retreat and hid for seven years, didn’t tell anyone about it. And then when it occurred to me that I might go public with it, I weighed that with my wife and myself, [had] a lot of conversations about it," Fox said. "And I realized it was a unique opportunity."
The fastest-growing neurodegenerative condition in the United States, Parkinson's is an incurable brain disorder, a progressive disease "that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination," according to the National Institute on Aging.
Parkinson's has taken a toll on the "Back to the Future" star over the decades. He developed – and recovered from – alcohol addiction while coping with his diagnosis in the early years. He's broken several bones. In his 2023 documentary, "Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie," he confessed he is "in pain all the time."
Since 2000, Fox's foundation has reportedly funded nearly $3 billion in Parkinson's research, successfully advocated for federal resources, and helped advance breakthrough scientific discoveries, such as a "crucial" spinal fluid test for those exhibiting symptoms of the neurodegenerative disease. Ultimately, they are working toward eliminating the disease "in our lifetime."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael J. Fox's daughters make rare appearance at dad's gala
