Tens of thousands of people at the Glastonbury Festival in England were met with an unforgettable experience after Canadian actor Michael J. Fox made a surprise appearance during Coldplay’s set on Saturday.
The “Back to the Future” star, who has been living with Parkinson’s disease since 1991, accompanied the British rock band with a guitar in hand while resting in his wheelchair.
Fox jammed out with the band as they put on a moving performance of their hit song “Fix You.”
While giving his thanks to the crowd during the song, vocalist and pianist Chris Martin gave Fox a shoutout, calling him “our hero forever.”
“The main reason we’re in a band is because of watching ‘Back to the Future,’ ” Martin said. “So thank you to our hero forever and one of the most amazing people on Earth, Mr. Michael J. Fox. Thanks so much, Michael.”
The Emmy-winning actor was thanked by a cheering crowd as he left the stage.
Fox rose to fame after he played the role of conservative high school student Alex P. Keaton in the sitcom “Family Ties.” He was still playing Alex when he was cast in the 1985 smash hit movie “Back to the Future,” which later went on to have two sequels.
The Edmonton native was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at the age of 29, a secret he didn’t reveal until 1998 in a Barbara Walters interview and People magazine article.
He has since retired from the showbiz in 2020 but he continues his work in activism including efforts made in his non-profit organization the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which according to its website, has funded more than $1 billion (U.S.) in programs since its founding in 2000.
With files from Debra Yeo
