Michael J. Fox Joined by Wife Tracy Pollan and Three Daughters for Rare Family Night at His Parkinson's Gala
(Illustration: USA Current Affaires)
Michael J. Fox had his whole family by his side for a very special night. The Back to the Future star stepped out with his wife, Tracy Pollan, and their three daughters for his foundation's annual Parkinson's gala in New York City on Saturday, November 14 — a rare red carpet appearance that quickly became one of the most heartwarming moments of the weekend.
Fox, 65, and Pollan, 66, beamed in coordinating all-black outfits as they posed with daughters Esmé, 25, and twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, 31, at the Waldorf Astoria. The family smiled for the cameras together, a picture of solidarity at an event that means more to them than any ordinary Hollywood party.
The gala, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson's", marked its 26th year on Saturday night. It is the flagship fundraiser for The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which the actor founded in 2000, nine years after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 29. The evening raises money for research into better treatments and, one day, a cure — a cause the Fox family has championed for more than a quarter of a century.
A Star-Studded Night for a Cause
The Waldorf Astoria ballroom was packed with famous friends. Comedian Denis Leary hosted the evening, while John Mayer and Brad Paisley performed for the crowd and comedians Josh Johnson and Tom Papa delivered sets between the fundraising. David Letterman was also pictured at the event, sharing a moment with Fox and Pollan.
It was a night that celebrated progress as much as it raised money. The Michael J. Fox Foundation has grown into one of the world's leading funders of Parkinson's research, investing more than $3 billion in scientific programmes since it began. For Fox, who has spent decades turning his own diagnosis into a force for change, the gala is both a reunion and a reminder of how far the fight has come.
"Day by Day"
Speaking to PEOPLE at the gala, Pollan opened up about how she and Fox — married since 1988 — stay positive through his Parkinson's journey. "I think you just have to do it day by day," she said, describing how the couple focuses on staying "in the moment" rather than worrying about what comes next.
It is a philosophy the whole family lives by, and it was on full display on the red carpet. The couple also share a son, Sam, 37, and the tight-knit family has long been open about facing the disease together, in public and in private.
Fox himself has never stopped working for the cause — or acting. Earlier this year he returned to the screen as Gerry, a man living with Parkinson's, in season 3 of the Apple TV+ comedy Shrinking, a role that drew praise for its warmth and honesty.
For fans, Saturday's photographs told their own story: a beloved star, surrounded by the people who love him most, still fighting and still smiling. Demi Moore also turned a gala into a family affair this weekend at the Baby2Baby Gala, but Fox's night carried a deeper meaning — a family standing together, year after year, for a cure. Chicago Fire star Robyn Coffin also shared her own health news this weekend, and the outpouring of support for both stars shows how much Hollywood rallies around its own.
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