Michael J. Fox, Tracy Pollan Reveal the Secret to Three Decades of Marriage

The Hollywood couple has been married for 34 years and counting, and though their situation has been complicated due to the actor's Parkinson's disease, the secret to their flourishing marriage is uncomplicatedly simple.

The couple attended the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival screening for Fox's documentary film, "Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie," and shared with People how their marriage lasted more than three decades.

The 62-year-old actress revealed that their secrets are pretty simple - listening and being there for each other and then balancing this with enough time apart.

"I think we really listen to each other. We are there for each other when we need each other. And then we also give each other space when that's needed. Just feeling off of what's needed at the moment and trying to be there," Pollan expressed.

Credit goes to his wife

Fox agreed with his wife yet emphasized that she should get most of the credit for their long marriage and beautiful family.

They share four grown-up children. Their eldest is 33-year-old son Sam, then twin daughters Aquinnah and Schuyler, 28, and their youngest, 21-year-old daughter Esmé.

The 61-year-old actor expressed how his wife gives the family everything they need. He stressed that anything good in their family and what they do comes from Pollan.

Fox shared a family photo on Instagram for Mother's Day last year. His caption stated that their children, being "beautiful, sensitive, intelligent, empathetic, independent, compassionate, adventurous (and) lovely people," are all his wife's fault.

'Parkinson's sucks,' but self-pity sucks all the more

But nothing can prove better what marriage is all about and what unconditional love is than Fox and Pollan journeying Parkinson's disease and all its effects together and both choosing to stay despite it.

Fox has shared so many times, and most recently when he accepted the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award last November 2022, that their marriage survived because his wife chose to stay after they found out about his Parkinson's diagnosis in 1991, even if she knew that she would "carry the weight" of their marriage and their family.

Fox knew "it would get worse" and that the "progress was indefinite and uncertain," yet Pollan "made it clear" that she was with him for the entire duration, Today reported.

The actor opened up about his diagnosis in 1998, seven years after he was diagnosed, admitting that he decided not to make it known since he went through a stage of denial. However, when he realized that it was not the way he wanted to live with the disease, he informed his fans about it, was surprised by the support and empathy, and ensured that his experience would help other victims of the disease.

When asked how he has been doing, he honestly expressed that he no longer has time for self-pity as it is equivalent to abusing himself. He blatantly declared that "Parkinson's sucks," yet he also cannot deny that he has a great life and a beautiful family. Thus, he has no regrets at all.