Yesterday, Michael J Fox was apparently dead. Today, he was very much alive, surprising an A-list co-star at an event in LA.
After CNN accidentally published a tribute video on the Back to the Future actor, incorrectly announcing his death, the star appeared on stage at PaleyFest held at the Dolby Theatre where he not only surprised fans with his resurrection, he also hosted an emotional reunion with Shrinking co-star Harrison Ford on stage.
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Ford, 83, was on a panel at the annual television and media festival talking about his Apple TV+ series where he plays Paul Rhoades, a doctor who is secretly dealing with a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.
Fox, 64, guest stars in the third season of the series, taking on the role of a fellow Parkinson’s patient who meets and immediately establishes a connection with Rhoades. Their friendship extended beyond their scenes together.
Fresh off a rare public appearance at last month’s Academy Awards, Fox decided to keep the momentum going by surprising his co-star in front of some diehard fans.
In a clip that has now gone viral, Fox and Ford can be seen embracing, genuinely pleased to be reuniting on stage.
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During a chat with the panel, Fox can be heard joking about landing the gig on the TV show saying the role required very little acting.
“I didn’t have to prove I have Parkinson’s, I have Parkinson’s,” he laughed along with the amused audience.
He went on to praise Ford for his portrayal of a Parkinson’s patient, admitting he would sometimes see himself in Ford’s character: “He nailed it,” he said.
The reunion was a touching one, even for those who spotted the video as it did the rounds on social media.
“Nothing can stop MJF from being where he wants to be! So happy to see him still doing what he loves,” one fan commented on Instagram.
“So touching seeing the wonderful actors feel so helpless to their adored co-star/friend,” another added.
And another fan simply acknowledged: “Great actors in that room.”
Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 29, after he noticed a tremor in his pinky finger while filming Doc Hollywood. He kept his battle private until finally disclosing his diagnosis with fans in 1998.
Earlier this week CNN caused a panic among fans when they mistakenly published a tribute to Fox, hinting the star had lost his battle with the disease.
The article and video package was shared on social media while no other formal reports of his passing were published.
A CNN spokesperson later admitted the error to TMZ, saying: “The package was published in error; we have removed it from our platforms and send our apologies to Michael J. Fox and his family.”