Michael J. Fox reflects on the moment he decided to retire thinking of a cult Leonardo DiCaprio scene from “Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood”.
Michael J. Fox recalls that a particular scene from Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood came to mind when he decided it was time to retire. After his debut in the series Family Ties, the actor obviously became famous with his role as Marty McFly in the saga Back to the future by Robert Zemeckis. In 1991, however, at the age of 29, he learned that he had Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological condition which eventually led to his retirement in 2020 at age 58.
In a recent interview with Empire Magazine (via Screenrant and Variety), on the occasion of the release of his biographical documentary Still: The Life of Michael J. Fox, the comedian recalls the moment he knew he was time for him to stop playing. He was on the set of The Good Fight, the spinoff of The Good Wife, and despite his ability to memorize his scripts quickly in the past, he constantly forgot his lines.
I thought of Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood. There’s a scene where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character can’t remember his text. He goes back to his dressing room and he shouts at himself through a mirror. It’s just crazy. I had this moment when I looked in the mirror and thought, ‘I don’t remember this. Well, let’s move on.’ It was peaceful.
The scene that Michael J. Fox refers to is one of the most memorable sequences from Tarantino’s film. Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, actor Rick Darlton, indeed forgets his lines and ransacks his dressing room in a fit of rage. Tarantino previously revealed that Leonardo DiCaprio himself improvised this tantrum that wasn’t in the script.
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE, INCLUDING PARKINSON
Recently on the cover of Variety magazine, Michael J. Fox confided in his life with Parkinson’s disease. “I’ve won more awards and had more nominations since announcing my diagnosis. People may feel bad for me, but I prefer to see it as recognition for continuing to have a legitimate career.”
And when told that he is a hero for living with this disease openly and talking about it without filter, the actor replies: “It’s just a nice way for people to let me know they’re moved by my acceptance of things and how I’ve tried to make a difference. But no matter if I’m sitting here and how much I talk to you about how I’ve philosophically accepted it and carried its weight, Parkinson’s continues to kick my ass. I will not win. I’m going to lose. But, there is a lot to gain in defeat.”
Still: The Life of Michael J. Fox is available to stream May 12 on Apple TV+.