A Leonardo DiCaprio Scene Drove Michael J. Fox To Retire From Acting

Michael J. Fox was just about at the apex of his success when his personal life took a turn for the worse, and his Parkinson’s is cited as a factor behind his decision to quit. But a Leonardo DiCaprio scene from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood deserves a significant amount of credit, by Foxx’s own account.

Fox rose to prominence as a child actor as Alex Keaton in Family Ties, a gig he maintained from 1982 to 1989. This standout hit was followed swiftly by the Back to the Future trilogy, with the final entry premiering in 1990. Just a year later, however, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, ushering in the gradual end to his time as an actor and the birth of his dedication to advocacy. He had some help along the way in the form of an unexpected source of assurance that retiring was the right move.

A scene from ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ featuring Leonardo DiCaprio inspired Michael J. Fox to retire

In a recent interview with Empire Magazine, shared by Variety, Fox opened up about life with Parkinson’s disease and the choices he’s had to make, from going public with his diagnosis in ‘98 to adjusting his workload as the days went by. This eventually led to his formal retirement in 2020.

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Just a year prior, Quentin Tarantino released Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, a dramedy starring DiCaprio alongside Barbie giant Margot Robbie and Mr. Smith himself Brad Pitt. It follows an actor past his prime as he and his stunt double navigate the a rapidly-changing entertainment industry in this trip back to 1969 Los Angeles set against the backdrop of the Tate murders. One scene shows DiCaprio, as Rick Dalton, struggles to remember his lines in a moment that resonated incredibly deeply for Fox.

“I thought of ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.’ There’s a scene where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character can’t remember his lines anymore,” recounted Fox. “He goes back to his dressing room and he’s screaming at himself in the mirror. Just freaking insane. I had this moment where I was looking in the mirror and thought, ‘I cannot remember it anymore.’”

Fox had lived through a nearly identical situation

The documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie gives an intimate look into just what hurdles Fox contended with after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, struggling not just through work but through everyday tasks made harder by the neurodegenerative disorder.

For example, footage shows him struggling with putting toothpaste on a toothbrush. When that’s over, he had to suppress his symptoms as much as possible to continue acting, while he still worked in the industry.

So, seeing that moment with DiCaprio was a special kind of cathartic for Fox, with remarkably little negativity to it. Fox recounted that he was not crushed by his decision to retire after seeing that scene, and instead thought, “‘Well, let’s move on.’ It was peaceful.”

Still became available to view on Apple TV+ on May 12, 2023. Have you watched it?

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