Quick summary
- Michael J. Fox appears on the latest episode of Esquire’s “What I’ve Learned”, published on 5 November 2026.
- He tells editor in chief Michael Sebastian that his best advice came from his father when he left Canada to act in America.
- Fox is 65 and says he has helped raise roughly $3 billion for Parkinson’s research through his foundation.
- The episode is available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts, according to Esquire.
Michael J. Fox says the best advice he ever received came from his father, and it was blunt: if you are going to be a lumberjack, go to the forest. The 65-year-old actor shared the story on the latest episode of “What I’ve Learned”, the interview series hosted by Esquire editor in chief Michael Sebastian, as Esquire reported on 5 November 2026.
The lumberjack advice that shaped a career
Fox’s father, a former soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces, offered the line when his son left Canada to pursue acting in America. According to Esquire, the actor reads it as a call to commit fully to whatever you choose, whether that is acting, activism or simply staying optimistic.
He also described the world his parents came from. They were born during the Depression, he says, and so they were cautious people who wanted a comfortable life with nothing left exposed. Fox, by his own account, wanted to do “all this crazy stuff” instead.
That list, as Esquire tells it, includes Teen Wolf, the three Back to the Future films, playing on stage with Coldplay, and joking about his condition on Curb Your Enthusiasm, which he did “because it’s hilarious”.
From a private diagnosis to a foundation
Esquire notes that Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 and kept working. His career since includes Emmy Awards and Golden Globes, and a recent role in season three of Apple TV’s Shrinking alongside Harrison Ford. Earlier television work includes Spin City.
In the interview, Fox explains why he founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation. He says he spent eight years keeping the diagnosis to himself, trying to hold it back with exercise and diet while learning from doctors. Going public, he says, felt like a slap on the forehead. He realised many people were going through the same thing and asked why information was not being shared.
The episode also covers what he learned from Rush Limbaugh accusing him of faking his diagnosis, and from meeting Barack Obama before Obama became president, according to Esquire. The outlet’s summary does not detail what he said on either subject.
Looking forward, not back
Fox says he does not tend to ask who he was at an earlier stage or who he will be later. He keeps his head down, focuses on where he is heading and pushes ahead. He adds that he now sits in a position where he can affect people’s lives.
Readers who want more on his work and causes can browse everything we publish about Michael J. Fox, including our report on the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Medtronic DBS guide and a look at how he nearly lost Family Ties over his height. More profiles sit in our Celebrities section.
What happens next
The full conversation is out now. Esquire says viewers can watch it on its site or YouTube, or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. No further episodes or Fox projects were announced in the piece.
Frequently asked questions
What was Michael J. Fox’s father’s advice?
He told his son that if he was going to be a lumberjack, he might as well go to the forest. Fox says he took it to mean he should fully commit to whatever he does.
Where can I watch the interview?
The episode of “What I’ve Learned” is on Esquire’s website and YouTube. It can also be heard on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
How much has Fox raised for Parkinson’s research?
The episode touches on raising roughly $3 billion for Parkinson’s research, according to Esquire.
