Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan have revealed the key to their successful 34-year marriage.
Fox, 61, and Pollan, 62, married in 1988 and have four children: son Sam, 33, twin daughters Aquinnah and Schuyler, 28, and Esme, 21. When they were cast as each other’s love interests on the set of Family Ties in 1985, they first met.
“I think we genuinely listen to one other, and we’re there for each other when we need it,” Pollan said.
“And then we also give each other space when that’s needed. Just trying to be present and aware of what is required.”
The couple is promoting Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, a documentary documenting Fox’s 1980s ascent to popularity and his subsequent diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease at 29 in 1991.
“Tracy provides our family with everything we need. Everything wonderful in our family, everything nice we do, comes from her,” Fox continued.
While accepting the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in November last year, Fox publicly reflected on his unexpected diagnosis.
“I was told that I only had ten years to work. That was a s****y move. That’s exactly what occurred. The most difficult part of my diagnosis was balancing the certainty of the diagnosis with the uncertainty of the situation,” the Back to the Future star stated.
“I just knew it was going to get worse. The diagnosis was specific, but the course of treatment was undefined and unpredictable. My wife stated unequivocally that she would be with me for the term.”
He stated that he kept the diagnosis quiet for seven years because he was in “denial.”
“Finally, I felt compelled to tell everyone. I realized it would significantly impact my career,” he added.
“What occurred next was incredible. The public’s outpouring of support, the lovely reaction from all of my peers in the entertainment industry, all of you, thank you, and the folks I worked with, was transforming.”
