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.

• Living with dystonia…one woman's story
• Michael J. Fox's book Always Looking Up is available in stores now. Find out more!
• To find out more about the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, visit MichaelJFox.org
• Want to get involved? Find out how you can join Team Fox
• Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist aired on ABC.

From The Oprah Winfrey Show Dr. Oz and Michael J. Fox

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