For more than 25 years, Michael J. Fox has been making America laugh. This Canadian-born actor made a name for himself in the early '80s as Alex P. Keaton, a conservative teen with hippie parents, on the hit show Family Ties . Then, he blasted into theaters as the star of blockbuster movies like Back to the Future .

In 1991, at the height of his career, Michael's life took an unexpected turn. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a chronic neurological disorder that can cause debilitating tremors.

At first, Michael kept his diagnosis private. He went on to produce and star in the comedic series Spin City . Then, as his symptoms worsened and became harder to disguise, Michael went public with his battle.