The “Back to the Future” actor honored his family at the top of the ceremony, after his peers gave him a huge round of applause in the room.

Michael J. Fox receives sustained applause for emotional Actor Awards 2026 speech amid Parkinson’s battle

The "Back to the Future" actor honored his family at the top of the ceremony, after his peers gave him a huge round of applause in the room.

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on March 1, 2026 8:46 p.m. ET

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Michael J. Fox at Actor Awards 2026 ceremony. Credit:

Michael J. Fox's peers warmly welcomed him to the 2026 Actor Awards, where the Hollywood icon and father of four gave an emotional speech about parenthood amid his battle with Parkinson's disease.

During the SAG-AFTRA union ceremony's traditional introduction on Sunday — which usually sees a round of actors speak about their lives and careers at the start of the show — the *Back to the Future* star received a sustained ovation from attendees in the room when the camera cut from Kate Hudson to him.

Fox, 64, flashed a peace sign to the room as the applause lasted around 15 seconds, with the actor looking at attendees around him as they cheered.

Michael J. Fox gives a moving speech at Actor Awards 2026.

"Before I left school, I moved from Canada to L.A. to make it as an actor. A teacher of mine told me, 'Fox, you're not going to be cute forever.' I didn't know what to say to that, so I said, 'Maybe just long enough, sir!'"

Fox continued, "After a few years of dumpster diving in L.A., I ended up on *Family Ties*, where I received the biggest gift of my career: I met my wife, the actress Tracy Pollan, who played Ellen, my girlfriend, and she gave me four gifts, our four kids." (Fox and Pollan married in 1988 — three years before he was diagnosed with Parkinson's.)

"Sometimes I like to remind them if it wasn't for acting, they wouldn't be here," he continued, as the camera panned over to show one of Fox's children sitting with him. "By the way, he's not an actor, he's just my date. I'm Michael J. Fox, I'm a dad, and I'm an actor!"

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Fox has long spoken about his life with Parkinson's, including after launching his nonprofit group, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. According to the Mayo Clinic, Parkinson's impacts the nervous system and "worsens over time," greatly impacting the patient's ability to move.

The actor recently reflected on his imprint in Hollywood, telling the *Los Angeles Times*, "I'll be dead," in response to a question about pondering his legacy.

Michael J. Fox.

Terry Wyatt/Getty

"My late father-in-law wrote a book once called *Die Broke*. The theory being spend all your money now. I don't mean just money. Your gift, your nectar. Spend it all now, and spend it on your kids, on people you love. I don't think about legacy," he said. "Certainly, the foundation will be around, and our work will continue. It'd be nice to have it done before I die, but I don't know if that will happen. We're certainly getting closer. Legacy is other people's business; my business is to live my best life, do the best I can, the best work I can, seize opportunities like working with Billy and Harrison, and continue to write my story until the pin drops."

*See the full list of 2026 Actor Awards winners*

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