Michael J. Fox, the star of "Back to the Future," opens up about his life in the book "Future Boy."

Michael J. Fox needs no introduction. An unforgettable icon of '80s and '90s cinema, he achieved international recognition thanks to the success of the "Back to the Future" franchise, combining his fresh, youthful look with the resourceful, rebellious spirit of Marty McFly.
After becoming a paragon of style and personality, rightfully entering the collective imagination, the star has demonstrated his unconventional talent in countless other opportunities : from teen comedies like "Teen Wolf" to dramatic roles, such as that in "Casualties of War" by the master Brian De Palma. His appearances on the small screen are also unforgettable, including the sitcom "Family Ties" and the television series "Spin City," where he played Michael Flaherty, a performance that earned him four Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and five Emmy Awards.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, Fox struggled throughout his life to balance his health and his career. From the very beginning, he committed himself to promoting stem cell research and founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for the disease and improving the lives of those affected by it through funding scientific research and supporting medical innovation.
Just recently, in an interview with The Times, he shared some thoughts on the disease, after living with it for over thirty-five years: "I was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease in 1991, when I was 29. There's no timeline, no stages you go through, unlike, say, prostate cancer. Not many people get Parkinson's at such a young age. It's a much more mysterious and enigmatic disease. I don't want to trip on furniture or bang my head. I can walk, but it's not nice and it's a little dangerous with Parkinson's; the brain suffers progressive damage over the years."
In memory of the incredible emotions he experienced in front of the camera, Fox is currently promoting “Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum,” a book published last October 14, in which he recounts firsthand his experiences on the sets of “Family Ties” and “Back to the Future,” the latter of which he shot when he was just 23. Among the many anecdotes in the memoir, fans were surprised to discover that the actor actually always detested the DeLorean, the unmistakable and bizarre time machine featured in all three installments of the saga.
Regarding the vehicle's aesthetics and handling, he specifically stated: "I know what you're thinking... that car must have been awesome to drive! I thought so at first, too, but I soon hated driving it. First of all, let's face it: it's a crappy car. Slow to accelerate, poorly finished... and that was before our special effects crew added their own spin. Those makeshift accessories—the flux capacitor, the various clocks and ornaments—tend to be pretty crude, metallic, and sharp. After that first night behind the wheel and for the rest of the film, my hands were riddled with lacerations, my knuckles bruised, and my elbows dented from banging against the console. As they say in show business, the pain is temporary, the movie is forever."
In a Q&A organized to promote the book, Fox also confessed that the Back to the Future prop he most regrets not having is the legendary Gibson ES-335, seen in the famous prom scene: "I was stupid. I should have taken that damn guitar. I have no idea how it disappeared. At first I thought one of the prop people had kept it, but it was too expensive not to end up somewhere. We weren't like the Star Wars guys who took everything. I only have the dress, shoes, and prom jewelry."
Reflecting instead, in an interview with Empire, on how the trilogy has stood the test of time, the star expressed what he believes are the main reasons: "I think a lot of people respond to the film because it touches a chord they wouldn't otherwise recognize. We live in a culture of bullies right now. We have bullies everywhere—I don't need to name names, but there are bullies everywhere. In this movie, Biff is a bully. Time is a bully."
And returning once again to talk about his illness, he added: "For me, personally, Parkinson's is a bully. And the whole film revolves around how you deal with those bullies and the determination you put into fighting them. It's about your resilience and your courage."