Why is Michael J Fox in a wheelchair? Back To The Future star make rare US Open appearance

Michael J Fox has fans concerned for him after he was spotted in a wheelchair.

The Back To The Future star, 64, made a public appearance on Day 15 of the 2025 US Open amid his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s disease. He posed for the cameras from his wheelchair at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Sunday, September 7.

At one point, however, he did stand up to strike a post alongside his wife, Trcy Pollan. He sported blue slacks and a matching blazer, which he paired with a white collared shirt. He completed his ensemble with some dark sunglasses and gray sneakers. After the photo session, he went back to his wheelchair.

Michael J Fox opens up about dealing with Parkinson's disease for decades: Read more

The Sun has reported that Michael J Fox, a renowned Canadian and American activist, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 29. However, per the Daily Mail, he publicly confirmed his diagnosis in 1998. Now a retired actor, he is often lauded for his unending bid to raise funds to support research in curing the ailment. He also serves as the founder of The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Back in 2023, per The Sun, he opened up about how his team is researching new ways to detect the illness and possibly treat it:

'The idea of a biomarker… a way to identify the disease before the disease is present," he explained. “By the time I was diagnosed, I had a little twitch in my pinky but...with this, we can identify the disease really early and help progression and essentially cure ahead of the game."

During an interview with CBS Sunday Mornings, Michael J Fox opened up about the treatments he'd undergone:

"I had a spinal surgery. I had a tumour on my spine. And it was benign, but it messed up my walking. And then, started to break stuff. Broke this arm, and I broke this arm, I broke this elbow. I broke my face. I broke my hand. Which is a big killer with Parkinson's. It's falling and aspirating food and getting pneumonia. All these subtle ways that get you.''

He added,

"You don't die from Parkinson's. You die with Parkinson's. So I've been thinking about the mortality of it. I'm not gonna be 80. I'm not going to be 80.''

Since then, Michael J Fox has been using a wheelchair, which he says is "frustrating and isolating."

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