Michael J. Fox Shares Heartbreaking Family Loss at 92

Michael J. Fox has always been open about two things: his illness and his family. Behind the fame, he’s built a home that’s warm, grounded, and full of love — one that’s now mourning a deep loss.

How It Started

Fox and his wife, actor Tracy Pollan, have been together since 1988. Over the years, they raised four children: Sam, 33; twin daughters Aquinnah and Schuyler, 27; and Esmé, 20. When Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at just 29, they had only one child — but the couple went on to build the large, lively family they’d always imagined.

Their oldest, Sam, often posts family moments on Instagram, sharing glimpses of his father with fans. “Twice the love,” Fox wrote on the twins’ birthday earlier this year, adding, “I admire you.” The bond between them is easy to see — laughter around the dinner table, matching smiles in family photos, a sense of togetherness that’s carried them through every change.

The Life They Built

Though Fox has spent decades in the public eye, his children prefer to stay out of it. Still, they’ve appeared beside him at Parkinson’s fundraisers and events, helping amplify the cause that defines much of his life’s work. The Michael J. Fox Foundation has now raised more than $1 billion for research — a testament to his determination and the family’s quiet support behind it.

During the pandemic, their Long Island home filled up again. “We were always the linger-after-dinner types,” Fox said in 2020. “Now we were lingering — putting puzzles together, watching Tracy cook up a storm, spending time with everyone. It’s difficult for me to accept that this is my life.”

Recently, that shared strength has been tested. Fox revealed that his mother, Phyllis, passed away at 92 — a loss that rippled through the family. He’s spoken of her often as his anchor, the woman who encouraged him to move from Canada to chase acting in Los Angeles.

Her passing comes as Fox continues his fight with Parkinson’s, a battle he’s faced with humor, courage, and a sense of perspective that only deepens with time.

Even in grief, the Fox family remains close. The kids are grown now, but the ties — built on dinners, laughter, and long nights around the same table — hold fast.

Sources: People, Parade, Entertainment Weekly, ABC News