Following the untimely death of Muhammad Ali, actor Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991, shares his memories of the legendary boxer with Rolling Stone Magazine.
Fox, who turns 55 this week, credits his perseverance to Ali who called him in 2000 to discuss the disease. This lead to Fox launching the world’s largest non-profit funder of Parkinson’s disease research.
“Very quietly, he said, ‘I’m sorry you have this [disease], but with you in the fight, we have a better chance of winning,'” Fox recalls.
He goes on to say how he’s been a fan of Ali since he was a child, often pretending to be the champ as his little brother would mimic Frazier. In 2000, Fox and Ali filmed a Parkinson’s commercial for the Michael J. Fox Fund, and Fox recalls how everyone instantly would gravitate towards the champ.
“I realized that no matter how famous you are, no matter how big a TV star you are – or whatever flimsy kinds of fame I had – you’re invisible when you’re with Muhammad Ali,” said Fox. “You’re anonymous. He attracts people like honey attracts bears. People come out of nowhere, to touch him and say hello to him. He was global.”
Fox continues, “He was a great boxer, sure, but he was also a great man. He was principled until the end of his days. He made no apologies, no excuses, but he understood kindness and honorability and generosity to people.”
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