Michael J. Fox takes a tumble on stage during a Back to the Future panel
Michael J. Fox took the stage this weekend during a Back to the Future Q&A panel at Fan Expo in Philadelphia.
The now-retired 61-year-old actor – who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 – lost his footing as he made his way to the stage.
Thankfully, the fall’s impact was mitigated as the beloved star landed on the couch in front of him, instead of the hard floor. The entertainer appeared unharmed after the brief fall, as he sat down and continued with the panel.
He was joined for the occasion by his Back to the Future co-stars Christopher Lloyd, 84, and Tom Wilson, 64.
It comes just over a month after he said his more than 30-year battle with Parkinson’s – a long-term degenerative condition that affects the nervous system and motor skills – was getting ‘more difficult’.
Tumble: Michael J. Fox fell on stage this weekend during a Back to the Future Q&A panel at Fan Expo in Philadelphia
Finding his way: The now-retired 61-year-old actor – who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 – lost his footing as he made his way to the stage
Unharmed: Fortunately, the beloved entertainer appeared unharmed after the brief fall, as he sat down and continued with the panel
Fox – who played the iconic Marty McFly in all three films – sported a relaxed look for the event, wearing a denim jacket over a white T-shirt and black jeans.
He completed the look with a pair of white Nike sneakers and a navy blue and yellow baseball cap. The actor also wore clear-framed glasses.
Meanwhile, Lloyd – famous for the role of Dr. Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown in the movie – looking casually cool in a black puffer vest over a long sleeve top and jeans.
Wilson – best known for playing bully Biff Tannen – opted for a stylish navy blue blazer and jeans.
The trio were pictured sitting next to each other on stage as they took turns answering questions from fans.
The five-time Emmy winner was already the breakout star of the sitcom Family Ties when he was cast as teenage time traveler Marty McFly in Back to the Future in 1985.
It was a critical and commercial success, earning over $380 million at the box office worldwide.
He reprized the role and traveled forward in time in the second film which was panned by critics.
Soft Landing: The impact of the fall was softened as the star landed on the couch in front of him, instead of the hard floor
Getting harder: It comes just over a month after he shared that his 30-plus year battle with Parkinson’s was getting ‘tougher’
Difficult: Parkinson’s is a long-term degenerative condition that affects the nervous system and motor skills
Greetings: Fox was pictured shaking hands with the host
Casual cool: Fox – who played the iconic Marty McFly in all three films – sported a relaxed look for the event, wearing a denim jacket over a white tee and black jeans
Sporty look: He completed the look with a pair of white Nike sneakers and a navy blue and yellow baseball cap
Accessories: The actor also accessorizes with clear frame glasses
Reunited: He was joined by his Back to the Future co-stars Christopher Lloyd, 84 (pictured) and Tom Wilson, 64, for the occasion
Q&A: The trio were pictured sitting next to each other on stage as they took turns answering questions from fans
Relaxed look: Lloyd – famous for the role of Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown in the movie – looked casually cool in a black puffer vest over a long sleeve top and blue jeans
Iconic: 1985’s Back to the Future was a critical and commercial success, grossing more than $380 million worldwide at the box office
Popular: It was followed by Back to the Future: Part II, the third highest grossing film of 1989, and Back to the Future: Part III
Dynamic Couple: The iconic duo portrayed as Dr. Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown and Marty McFly and in a still from the 1985 film
That didn’t stop fans from pouring into theaters to see it, making Back to the Future: Part II the third-highest-grossing film of 1989.
The actor played a dual role as Marty and his ancestor Seamus McFly in Back to the Future: Part III, traveling back to the Old West to save Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown from being murdered by a gunfighter.
Apart from the fall, it was otherwise a good week for the actor, who celebrated his lookalike son Sam’s 34th birthday with a low-key family gathering.
Marking the occasion on his Instagram, he shared a photo of his eldest child blowing out candles, as well as two photos of them enjoying a sunny day on a boat together.
One of the photos shows the actor lovingly kissing his son on the cheek.
“Congratulations on my big bouncing baby boy @palekidd you are the best,” he wrote in the caption below the snaps.
Fox shares Sam with wife Tracy Pollan, 62.
The couple tied the knot in 1988 and are also parents to twins Aquinnah Kathleen and Schuyler Frances, 27, and Esmé Annabelle, 21.
Lookalike son: Aside from the fall, it’s been an otherwise good week for the actor, who celebrated his lookalike son Sam’s 34th birthday with a low-key family gathering
Birthday celebrations: Marking the occasion on his Instagram, he shared a picture of his eldest child blowing out candles, as well as pictures of them enjoying a sunny day on a boat together
Strong bond: One of the photos shows the actor lovingly kissing his son on the cheek
Family: Fox shares Sam with wife Tracy Pollan, 62. The couple tied the knot in 1988, and are also parents to twins Aquinnah Kathleen and Schuyler Frances, 27, and Esmé Annabelle, 21; In the photo 2023
In April, Fox got candid about living with Parkinson’s disease, telling CBS Sunday Morning: “[Parkinson’s] banging on the door… I’m not going to lie, it’s going to be hard. It gets harder. It’s getting harder and harder.’
“Every day it’s harder… that’s how it is,” he added.
He also shared that he didn’t believe he would live to see his 80th birthday. “You don’t die of Parkinson’s. You die of Parkinson’s. So I’ve been thinking about its mortality. I’m not going to be 80. I’m not going to be 80,” he said.
Fox retired from acting in 2020 due to his declining health.
Since his diagnosis, the iconic actor has focused his life on raising money to research the disease.
Since then, he has raised more than $1 billion in research funding through the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
In November, Fox received an honorary Academy Award for his work on the disease.