10/06/2026
Born in 1961, Michael J. Fox endeared himself to legions of fans as Marty McFly in the popular “Back to the Future” film trilogy (1985–90) and with his roles on the sitcoms “Family Ties” (1982–89) and “Spin City” (1996–2001).
Only thirty years old when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease—a degenerative neurological disorder—he did not make his condition known to the public until 1998. As an advocate for more research into the disease, he established the Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research with the goals of finding a cure and supporting the development of improved therapies for those living with it.
In this portrait, Fox’s steely gaze mirrors the determination of the man whose foundation has already generated more than $450 million to fund its ambitious research objectives. The photograph, taken by Steve Pyke, was taken for Esquire magazine’s popular “What I’ve Learned” column. In it, he spoke candidly about living with Parkinson’s disease: “If I let it affect everything, it’s gonna own everything. I don’t deny it or pretend it’s not there, but if I don’t allow it to be bigger than it is, I can do everything else.”
📸: “Michael J. Fox” by Steve Pyke, 2008. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. © Steve Pyke