Tracy Pollan discusses balancing marriage and work amid Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s journey
Tracy Pollan said she and her husband take “one day at a time, ” outlining how that approach has sustained their 37-year marriage while they navigate his long-running Parkinson’s diagnosis. She delivered the remarks during an intimate conversation at the A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s Gala on November 15, 2025, a moment that gained fresh resonance after Michael J. Fox’s emotional Actor Awards appearance on March 1, 2026.
Tracy Pollan on balancing marriage and work
At age 65, Tracy Pollan framed day-to-day simplicity as the guiding principle for her family. She noted that the couple’s decades-long experience with Parkinson’s, diagnosed in 1991, has required constant adjustments and practical support. “We just take it one day at a time, and it’s worked, ” she said during the conversation, stressing that caregiving and illness bring real difficulty for patients and families.
Actor Awards moment underscored emotional stakes
Hours before this piece, Michael J. Fox made an emotional surprise appearance at the 2026 Actor Awards on March 1. In remarks to the assembled audience he called meeting his wife “the greatest gift” and credited his time on Family Ties with changing his life. The appearance moved many attendees and viewers, reinforcing the public dimension of a private partnership that has endured for nearly four decades.
Work remains central for both partners
Both actors continue to pursue creative work. Tracy recently completed filming for a holiday film titled Holiday Touchdown, working alongside NFL figures that were part of the production. Michael, age 64, is set for a significant guest turn in the third season of Shrinking after the show’s creator reached out to him. Those projects, combined with public appearances, show the couple maintaining active professional lives while managing health and family responsibilities.
Foundation role and family support
Michael founded a foundation for Parkinson’s research in 2000, which is now celebrating its 25th anniversary; Tracy serves on the foundation’s board and praised its research work as a source of hope. The couple’s four children, all born after or very young during their father’s diagnosis, form an important support network. Pollan described her children as “incredibly supportive, ” saying she leans on them and that they “show up” for the family.
What comes next
With the foundation milestone and ongoing screen projects in plain view, the couple’s public schedule remains active. If the foundation continues its research progress, it may sustain the optimism both parents cited; additional seasons and appearances will also keep their story in the spotlight. For now, the household strategy of managing daily realities while staying professionally engaged remains the clearest through line shared by Tracy Pollan and her husband.
