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"What a legend": Michael J Fox receives emotional standing ovation

<p>Michael J Fox, who has Parkinson's disease, made a surprise appearance at the BAFTA Awards in London. </p> <p><em>The Back to the Future</em> actor came onstage in a wheelchair, but he insisted on standing up at the podium to present the Best Film award. </p> <p>The star-studded audience all rose to their feet and gave the actor a standing ovation. </p> <p>When presenting the award, Fox described cinema as "magic" which can "change your life".</p> <p>"Five films were nominated in this category tonight and all five have something in common. They are the best of what we do," he said. </p> <p>He added that films can bring people together "no matter who you are or where you're from".</p> <p>"There's a reason why they say movies are magic because movies can change your day.</p> <p>"It can change your outlook. Sometimes it can change your life."</p> <p>Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in the 1990s, rarely makes public appearances. </p> <p>Many fans were pleasantly surprised at his appearance as he presented the night’s biggest award, Best Film, to <em>Oppenheimer</em>.</p> <p>"I was in tears the moment Michael J Fox came on the stage," one fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.</p> <p>"THE MAN IS A LEGEND"</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">i was in tears the moment Michael J Fox came on the stage 😥😥😥</p> <p>THE MAN IS A LEGEND <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAFTAs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAFTAs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAFTA2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAFTA2024</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EEBAFTAs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EEBAFTAs</a> <a href="https://t.co/Uud368S9gb">pic.twitter.com/Uud368S9gb</a></p> <p>— RanaJi🏹 (@RanaTells) <a href="https://twitter.com/RanaTells/status/1759323180060299726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>"Michael J Fox. Absolute hero. What a legend," wrote another. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Michael J Fox. Absolute hero. What a legend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAFTAs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAFTAs</a> <a href="https://t.co/62lxpCy3mn">pic.twitter.com/62lxpCy3mn</a></p> <p>— Jules 🌼 (@JulesItsjules) <a href="https://twitter.com/JulesItsjules/status/1759320058583568638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>"All those stars in the room, and still the biggest and most affectionate reaction is for Michael J Fox, because the man is a legend," added a third. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">All those stars in the room, and still the biggest and most affectionate reaction is for Michael J Fox, because the man is a legend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EEBAFTAs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EEBAFTAs</a></p> <p>— Declan Cashin (@Tweet_Dec) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tweet_Dec/status/1759319831696855281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>"He's a total legend and wonderful human," wrote a fourth. </p> <p>The actor has spoken <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/i-m-not-gonna-be-80-michael-j-fox-s-tragic-admission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">candidly</a> about his experience with Parkinson's over the years, and has said that he has made peace with the degenerative nature of the disease. </p> <p>In a previous interview with AARP magazine profile, the actor admitted that he did not fear death. </p> <p>“I am genuinely a happy guy. I don’t have a morbid thought in my head — I don’t fear death. At all," he told the publication. </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Raise a cup: Founder of beloved tea dies aged 93

<p>Tributes are pouring in after news of the passing of Merrill J. Fernando, the visionary founder of the renowned Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company. At the age of 93, surrounded by his beloved sons and grandchildren, Fernando breathed his last in Colombo, Sri Lanka.</p> <p>Fernando's impact on the tea industry was profound, and he became well-known for his memorable line in advertisements, urging people to "do try it."</p> <p>As a true teamaker, disrupter, and servant, he dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in tea.</p> <p>In a heartfelt statement shared on social media, Dilmah Tea paid tribute to this legendary figure, acknowledging his invincible faith, integrity, and love for both tea and family. He was a man of unwavering devotion, tirelessly striving for integrity and quality, all while maintaining a humble and kind demeanour.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Surrounded by family, iconic Teamaker, Disrupter and Servant Merrill J Fernando passed this morning. His greatness was in kindness & humility, enabled by invincible faith. He pursued passion for tea to serve others. His generations will follow as he rests in the arms of his Lord. <a href="https://t.co/F90OgaCQZS">pic.twitter.com/F90OgaCQZS</a></p> <p>— The Dilmah Family (@TheDilmahFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDilmahFamily/status/1681844254681776129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Fernando's journey from humble rural beginnings to global prominence was shaped by the Christian family values instilled in him during his upbringing. He lived by these values throughout his 93 years, leaving a legacy that touched countless lives.</p> <p>Beyond his entrepreneurial prowess, Merrill J. Fernando was a disruptor with a mission to better the lives of others through his passion for tea. He firmly believed that tea could bring positive change to the world. The statement highlighted his commitment to making the world a better place through the goodness of Ceylon Tea.</p> <p>In memory of the great man he was, a <a href="https://mjf.dilmahtea.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memorial website</a> has been set up on the Dilmah website. This platform allows the public to pay their respects and share their tributes to the industry giant who forever changed the landscape of tea.</p> <p>Merrill J. Fernando's departure leaves a void in the tea community, but his legacy will continue to inspire and shape the industry for generations to come. His dedication, humanity, and relentless pursuit of ethical purposes will forever remain an integral part of the Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company's identity. As we remember him, let us raise our cups in tribute to this remarkable man, who truly lived his life with taste, goodness, and a profound sense of purpose.</p> <p><em>Images: Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company</em></p>

Caring

Michael J. Fox gets mushy over 35 years of wedded bliss with Tracy Pollan

<p>In a tremendous display of tenderness, Michael J. Fox, the time-traveling heartthrob from Back to the Future, has taken to Instagram to pay tribute to his wife, Tracy Pollan, on their momentous 35th wedding anniversary. </p> <p>The 62-year-old star couldn't resist pouring his heart out, and he wrote, "35 years of [laughter], living, listening, and loving you, @tracy.pollan. Thank you for it all. Forever yours, Mike." </p> <p>Pollan, unable to contain her overflowing affection, gushed in the comments, "Love you so much!!!" Oh, the lovebirds! This display of love and adoration didn't stop there. Tracy took to her own Instagram account to pen a tribute to her hubby. "35 years!!!" she exclaimed, "Happy anniversary, my love. Here's to many more glorious adventures together. I could not love you more." Cue the swooning!</p> <p>The couple didn't stop at heartfelt messages either. They also shared a collection of adorable photos that showcased their journey of love and togetherness.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CuwsTfyrq3b/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CuwsTfyrq3b/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Michael J Fox (@realmikejfox)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>This isn't the first time Fox has let his feelings flow like the DeLorean's exhaust. Just last month, he wished his beloved wife a happy 63rd birthday with an Instagram post that melted hearts worldwide. He referred to her as his "forever summer girl," his love, his best friend, and the most beautiful, amazing mum to their four stupendous kids. </p> <p>Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we? Fox and Pollan's love story started on the set of <em>Family Ties</em> in 1985, where they played love interests. Little did they know that their on-screen chemistry would spark a real-life romance. At the time, Fox was involved with Nancy McKeon, while Pollan was seeing Kevin Bacon (yes, the <em>Footloose</em> guy). Fate had different plans, though, and the couple found themselves reuniting in 1988 on the set of <em>Bright Lights, Big City</em>. Talk about a plot twist!</p> <p>Within seven months of their reunion, Fox and Pollan were engaged and soon walked down the aisle, sealing their fate as one of Hollywood's most enduring and beloved power couples. Together, they have gracefully navigated the highs and lows of marriage and are proof that true love can withstand the test of time (and maybe a little flux capacitor magic).</p> <p>Their love story expanded to include four children: Sam, 34, twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, 28, and Esmé, 21. Clearly, their love multiplied like Marty McFly's time-travelling adventures.</p> <p>But it's not just lovey-dovey romance that makes this couple shine. Fox has openly praised Pollan for being his rock during his battle with Parkinson's Disease, which began in the early '90s. He once revealed in an interview, "Tracy was just like, 'You've got a stone in your shoe. We'll do what we can until you can get it out. In the meantime...you can hold my hand, and we'll get over that.'" Now that's love that defies the laws of physics.</p> <p>So, let's raise a glass to Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan as they celebrate 35 years of marital bliss. May their love continue to shine like the Flux Capacitor, and may their adventures together never run out of 1.21 gigawatts of excitement. Cheers to love, laughter, and happily ever afters!</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

Tragic accident claims pregnant Hollyoaks actress at just 38

<p dir="ltr">Former <em>Hollyoaks</em> actress, best known for her role at Jess Holt on the Channel 4 series, has died at 38. </p> <p dir="ltr">The actress was reportedly travelling with her two sons and nephew when she stopped to answer a phone call on the M66 hard shoulder near Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 38 year old - who is believed to have been 18 weeks pregnant at the time of the incident - was then struck by a speeding vehicle. Frankie, her nine-year-old son Tommy and two-year-old Rocky, as well as her four-year-old nephew Tobias, were all airlifted to hospital. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Mirror </em>have reported that Tommy and Tobias were put into medically included comas, while Frankie sadly passed away with her partner, Calvin, “frantically by her side”. </p> <p dir="ltr">The devastating crash occurred on May 14, but the news has only come to the public’s attention since Frankie’s former co-star, Paul Danan, paid a series of emotional tributes on social media. </p> <p dir="ltr">Frankie had been on <em>Hollyoaks </em>between 2000 and 2001, where Paul had had the honour of playing her character’s boyfriend, Sol Patrick. </p> <p dir="ltr">Paul shared pictures of their time together working on <em>Hollyoaks</em>, as well as some more recent pictures of his late friend, along with the caption “I just heard the most shocking upsetting news I've heard in such a long time. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Another good good friend who was such a special person has sadly passed away while carrying her unborn baby and her 2 little boys and nephew who were in the car too. They had a terrible car accident.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He went on to share that the driver responsible for the crash had been charged, before linking the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/pregnant-mum-frankie-3-children-fight-for-life">GoFundMe</a> that had been set up to support Frankie’s loved ones and “to help them get through the most traumatic incident they have been through.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctw7j6TLcg4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctw7j6TLcg4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Paul L Danan (@pauldanan)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">He later shared another series of images and a new caption, writing of his heartbreak over how “Frankie will never get to see her family again” and how “her unborn child … never even got a chance in life, let alone her two little Gorgeous boys and nephew [who] won't see their mum or aunty again.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Paul wrote that his “heart and prayers” went out to Frankie’s boys and her husband, and added that the horrific news “just solidifies things for me about driving dangerously or fast especially when not in a good head space. Look at what can happen, it's actually just too painful to even think about right now.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: GoFundMe</em></p>

News

Michael J Fox shares rare photos of lookalike son

<p dir="ltr">Michael J Fox has shared a few rare photos of his eldest son, Sam, in a sweet birthday tribute.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Back To The Future</em> actor took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a series of photos in celebration of his lookalike son’s 34th birthday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy birthday to my big bouncing baby boy, you are the best. Proud to be your pops. Love you!” he captioned the photos.</p> <p dir="ltr">The first photo showed his son blowing out a few candles on a huge chocolate ganache cake.</p> <p dir="ltr">The second photo showed the father-son duo beaming as they sat next to each other on a boat ride and in the third photo, Fox can be seen planting a big kiss on his son’s cheeks.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs3tLlOLCBb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs3tLlOLCBb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Michael J Fox (@realmikejfox)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Sam is the eldest of the four children Fox shares with his wife Tracey Pollen. They are also parents to twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, 28, and Esmé, 21.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many fans took to the comments to share their birthday wishes to Sam.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy birthday Sam ❤️” read one comment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Chip off the old block. Very handsome. 😍Happy Birthday!!” wrote another fan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Never realised how much he looks like you until now! Happy birthday.,” commented a third.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Gosh, he looks SO much like you at that age!” gushed a fourth.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

Rare sighting as famous friends step out in support of Michael J. Fox

<p>Michael J. Fox has been joined by a host of his famous friends for a screening of his upcoming documentary. </p> <p>The new documentary explores the <em>Back to the Future</em> star's ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease, and the changes in his life and condition as he gets older. </p> <p>In a show of support for the actor, his celebrity mates joined together for a screening of <em>Still</em> at New York's Lincoln Center. </p> <p>Among the famous faces was actress Meg Ryan, who has not been spotted in public for more than six months. </p> <p>The former rom-com queen, best known for starring roles in films like <em>When Harry Met Sally</em>, <em>Sleepless in Seattle</em> and <em>You’ve Got Mail</em>, lives a more quiet life outside of the spotlight these days.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr1TCUeO8e3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr1TCUeO8e3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tracy Pollan (@tracy.pollan)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Ryan hasn’t appeared on screen since the 2015 film <em>Ithaca</em>, which she also directed.</p> <p>However, she is plotting a return to screens later this year, with Ryan starring in and directing the film <em>What Happens Later</em>, which is currently in production.</p> <p>Ryan was among a star-studded group of famous friends supporting J. Fox for the premiere of his doco, with stars including Bill Murray, Denis Leary, Joan Jett, Katie Couric, Mariska Hargitay, and Debra Messing. </p> <p>The screening of the documentary comes after Michael J. Fox <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/i-m-not-gonna-be-80-michael-j-fox-s-tragic-admission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admitted</a> that his battle with the disease is getting more difficult. </p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“I’m not gonna be 80,” he said in a preview for an upcoming episode of the American current affairs program <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">CBS Sunday Mornin</em>g, according to <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Page Six</em>.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">In the clip, Journalist Jane Pauley tells Fox that he has “not squandered” but that his condition will eventually “make the call” as to when it’s his time to go.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“Yeah, it’s, it’s banging on the door,” the actor said.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“I’m not gonna lie. It’s gettin’ hard, it’s gettin’ harder. It’s gettin’ tougher. Every day it’s tougher.”</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';"><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

“I’m not gonna be 80": Michael J. Fox's tragic admission

<p>Beloved actor Michael J. Fox is acknowledging how difficult his more than 30-year battle with Parkinson’s disease has become.</p> <p>“I’m not gonna be 80,” the Back to the Future star said in a preview for an upcoming episode of the American current affairs program <em>CBS Sunday Mornin</em>g, according to <em>Page Six</em>.</p> <p>In the clip, Journalist Jane Pauley tells Fox that he has “not squandered” but that his condition will eventually “make the call” as to when it’s his time to go.</p> <p>“Yeah, it’s, it’s banging on the door,” the actor said.</p> <p>“I’m not gonna lie. It’s gettin’ hard, it’s gettin’ harder. It’s gettin’ tougher. Every day it’s tougher.”</p> <p>Fox revealed that he had surgery to remove a benign tumour on his spine, but the procedure “messed up” his walking and so he started to “break” other parts of his body, including his arm, elbow, face and hand.</p> <p>He added that the “big killer” of Parkinson’s disease is “falling” and can also be “aspirating food and getting pneumonia”, pointing out that it is “all these subtle ways that gets you.”</p> <p>You don’t die from Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s,” he said. “So – so I’ve been – I’ve been thinking about the mortality of it.”</p> <p>The actor was diagnosed with the brain disorder at just 29. He has since become a leading advocate for research on the condition, with the launch of the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to help educate the public and fund studies.</p> <p>He has previously revealed that he does not fear death.</p> <p>“I’m really blunt with people about cures. When they ask me if I will be relieved of Parkinson’s in my lifetime, I say, ‘I’m 60 years old, and science is hard. So, no,’” he admitted in an AARP magazine profile in December 2021.</p> <p>“I am genuinely a happy guy. I don’t have a morbid thought in my head — I don’t fear death. At all.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

“Game-changer”: Michael J Fox shares huge medical news

<p dir="ltr">Michael J Fox has shared news of a medical breakthrough into Parkinson’s disease.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 61-year-old – who was diagnosed with the disease in 1991 – was thrilled to share the news, despite suffering a “terrible year”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fox told <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2023/04/12/michael-j-fox-parkinsons-biomarker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Stat News</em></a> that he had broken multiple bones after a fall, including some in his hand and face, but has said that in some ways he is “feeling better”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite his own personal battle, the <em>Back to the Future</em> star was overjoyed to share the breakthrough in Parkinson’s research.</p> <p dir="ltr">The study – funded by Fox’s charity organisation that aims to find a cure for Parkinson’s – found that a key Parkinson's pathology can now be identified by examining spinal fluid from living patients, allowing earlier intervention.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s all changed. It can be known and treated early on. It’s huge,” he said</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is the thing. This is the big reward. This is the big trophy.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The findings, published in <em>The Lancet Neurology</em>, are the result of a 1,123-person study that Fox’s foundation has put hundreds of millions of dollars into since it began in 2010.</p> <p dir="ltr">An editorial in the medical journal has also called this research “a game-changer in Parkinson’s disease diagnostics, research, and treatment trials”.</p> <p dir="ltr">In late 2022 the actor opened up about his struggle with Parkinson’s in his emotional acceptance speech for the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/michael-j-fox-reveals-more-details-about-his-struggle-with-parkinson-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jean Hershel Humanitarian Award</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the speech he said that the hardest part “was grappling with the certainty of the diagnosis and the uncertainty of the situation,” but has since felt relieved after an “outpouring of support” from the public and his peers.</p> <p><em>Image: Frazer Harrison for Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

"I'm not afraid to challenge myself": J-Lo's secret to staying physically and mentally fit

<p>Jennifer Lopez has shared an insight into her gruelling workout routine, revealing it is the best thing for both her physical and mental wellness. </p> <p>The 53-year-old singer and actress told US Weekly how important moving her body is to help keep a positive mental attitude. </p> <p>"It's no secret that fitness is a very important part of my life... I think there's a positive correlation between exercise and mental health," she said. </p> <p>J-Lo's claims have long been backed up by healthcare professionals, with the MentalHealth.org website reading, "Research shows that people who exercise regularly have better mental health and emotional wellbeing, and lower rates of mental illness."</p> <p>"Taking up exercise seems to reduce the risk of developing mental illness... and seems to help in treating some mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety."</p> <p>Lopez went on to say, "When you find a good balance through determination and focus, we're naturally pushing to be the best version of ourselves."</p> <p>She usually begins her workouts "first thing in the morning", which usually means rolling out of bed before 5am. </p> <p>J-Lo regularly mixes up her workouts, explaining, "I'm always evolving and looking for things that keep me excited and motivated."</p> <p>"I'm not afraid to challenge myself, so I'm open to pushing myself, which is what I'm doing right now as I rehearse for my new album, [This Is Me… Now], coming out this summer."</p> <p>Even Jennifer's trainer Tracy Anderson said the pop star goes above and beyond for her health and fitness, pushing herself for maximum results. </p> <p>'"She shows up no matter what, she takes the time seriously, she knows her body, she wants to be herself," Anderson has said. </p> <p>"She knows that putting in the hard work to get her workout in is part of it."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Body

Great Scott! Michael J. Fox poses with new pup

<p>Michael J. Fox has a new furry friend, and fans are saying the pup resembles the dog from the <em>Back to the Future</em> movies.</p> <p>The 61-year-old icon shared a post on Instagram featuring himself snuggled up with his adorable new dog, whom he named Blue.</p> <p>The star captioned his post, “Hey Blue, welcome to your new home!”</p> <p>Fans of Fox flocked to the comments to share their thoughts on the new pup as well as comparing the dog’s looks to Dr Emmet Brown’s dog in the <em>Back to the Future</em> trilogy.</p> <p>The dog featured in the trilogy, the infamous Einstein, was a similar breed to Fox’s new furry friend.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpePqBRr3A5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpePqBRr3A5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Michael J Fox (@realmikejfox)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>People wrote comments such as, “Einstein came back using the time machine,” and “Aww he looks like a baby Einstein!”</p> <p>The dog in the films was a fully grown sheepdog that went on some serious adventures with Fox’s character, Marty McFly and Doc Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd.</p> <p>Several A-list stars also took to the comments on Fox’s post.</p> <p>“Oh my gosh!! So cute 🥰,” wrote Julianne Moore.</p> <p>Jennifer Grey from <em>Dirty Dancing</em> expressed her thoughts through a series of emojis, commenting, “💞🐶👅🐶👅💞,"</p> <p>Fox is known to be a dog lover, having mourned the loss of his previous dog, Gus, in April of 2021.</p> <p>When he announced the loss of Gus on Instagram, he captioned his post, “Gus - great dog and loyal friend, we'll miss you.”</p> <p>The actor has mentioned several times how much of a “wonder dog” Gus had been over the years.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram/Reddit</em></p>

Family & Pets

Back to the Future stars reunite

<p>It’s been 37 years since the cinematic masterpiece, Back to the Future part 1, graced our screens. You might be wondering where they are now, although the appropriate question would be, “when the hell are they?”</p> <p>The Back to the Future stars joined up at a fan convention in Portland, USA, and the excitement from fans sighting Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Thomas Wilson used up a lot more energy than 1.21 gigawatts.</p> <p>Last year, Fox and Lloyd came together on stage at Comic-Con in New York in an emotional display, which brought fans in the audience to tears.</p> <p>On stage, Fox said, referring to his co-star Lloyd, “The best part of the movie was working with Chris,” going on to say he was a genius, also revealing there was “immediate chemistry” between the pair.</p> <p>Fox played the iconic Marty McFly in the 1985 movie. Director Robert Zemeckis had originally cast Eric Stolz as Marty, however, due to conflict with his schedule on Family Ties, Stolz couldn’t continue with the project.</p> <p>Stolz started filming in November 1984 but was replaced by early January. Aside from the schedule conflict with Stolz, it was reported that early footage was also underwhelming. Now that’s heavy!</p> <p>Fox officially joined the production in mid-January of 1985.</p> <p>Fox played Marty McFly in all three Back to the Future movies, Great Scott!</p> <p>The fans are on a sweet nostalgia trip seeing the cast back together after over three decades.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Movies

Michael J Fox reveals more details about his struggle with Parkinson's

<p>Michael J. Fox has delivered an emotional and heartfelt speech, during which he recalled keeping his life-changing Parkinson’s diagnosis a secret, in fear it would impact his career.</p> <p>The famed actor was diagnosed with the disorder in 1991, at only 29 years old. It wasn’t until seven years after that he made public his health battle.</p> <p>As he accepted the Jean Hershel Humanitarian Award (an honorary Oscar recognising his philanthropic efforts), Fox said the “uncertainty” of his condition caused him to stay silent the entire time.</p> <p>"I was told I only had 10 years left to work. That was s---ty. That's what happened," he told the crowd, as per People magazine. "The hardest part of my diagnosis was grappling with the certainty of the diagnosis and the uncertainty of the situation. I only knew it would get worse. The diagnosis was definite, the progress was indefinite and uncertain."</p> <p>"Then I entered into seven years of denial, trying to make sense of it all," he recalled. "The kid who left Canada convinced that he would make anything happen, at least by working hard and by believing, now had a tall order in front of him.” He said he told "very few people" about his diagnosis and they all kept his "secret".</p> <p>"Then there were all kinds of doctors who helped me understand the physical processes that were at work, or not at work, in my brain, as the case may be," he shared. "Finally, I felt like I needed to tell everybody. I understood it would have a huge impact on my career."</p> <p>Fox eventually spoke about his diagnosis with American journalist Barbara Walters and the aftermath of the intimate interview surprised him.</p> <p>"What happened next was remarkable," he remembered. "The outpouring of support from the public at large, the beautiful reaction from all of my peers in the entertainment business, all of you, thank you, and the people that I worked with, was transformative."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p>

Caring

"Oh, he's alive!" Kyle's awkward blunder leaves Sunrise presenter speechless

<p>Kyle Sandilands has made an awkward error live on <em>Sunrise</em>, leaving Edwina Bartholomew speechless. </p> <p>The radio shock jock was discussing his return to <em>Australian Idol</em>, as he is set to appear on the new season of the show along with judges Harry Connick, Jr Meghan Trainor and Amy Shark.</p> <p>Edwina asked if Kyle would use Mark Holden's famous "touchdown" move, with Kyle initially saying he didn't want to steal it. </p> <p>During his time on the show between 2003 and 2007, Mark would award the touchdown to an artist whose performance he deemed particularly good.</p> <p>Kyle said he “always hated” the touchdowns as he “got a bit jealous”.</p> <p>“I got nothing,” he said of any new moves for the 2023 series.</p> <p>“I got no touchdown, although maybe I’ll ask Mark, can we bring the touchdown? I don’t want to steal his thing."</p> <p>“If he hadn’t passed, I’d ask him.”</p> <p>Edwina briefly flashed a look of confusion before assuring Kyle that Mark was very much alive and well.</p> <p>“Oh, he’s alive!” Kyle said, adding that he would “give him a call”.</p> <p>As the segment ended, Eddy addressed the camera directly as she said, “A very good morning to the very much alive Mark Holden.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Sunrise</em></p>

Michael J Fox shares sad family news

<p>Michael J Fox has revealed that his mother Phyllis died in late September at age 92. </p> <p>The actor shared the news during his appearance at the 2022 New York Comic Con on Saturday, where he also reunited with his <em>Back to The Future</em> co-star Christopher Lloyd. </p> <p>Michael remembered Phyllis by recalling a funny anecdote about how she thought he was being overworked when he was filming <em>Family Ties</em> in the daytime and <em>Back to the Future</em> at night in the 1980s.</p> <p>He said, "I was 23 years old, and I called her, she was in Canada, and I said, 'They want me to do this Steven Spielberg movie, but I have to do it at night and I have to do <em>Family Ties</em> in the daytime.' And she said, 'You'll be too tired,"' he shared. </p> <p>The 61-year-old star told his mom in response, "I live for this kind of tired. It'll be okay."</p> <p>He then added, "To this day — well, till two weeks ago — my mother thought it was a really bad idea for me to do <em>Back to the Future</em>. She loved the movie, [but she was right], I got tired."</p> <p>During his Comic Con appearance, Michael also updated his fans on how his Parkinson's disease is progressing, and how he remains optimistic despite his ongoing health battle. </p> <p>"Well, in the last year I've broken my cheek, my eye socket, my hand, my elbow … my shoulder. I had a rough year of getting beat up. But that was really cool because it made me realise … with gratitude, it's sustainable," he stated.</p> <p>"If you can find something to be grateful for, if you can find something and say, 'Well, that's good,' … It'll always get better… I'm very optimistic." </p> <p>"I'd say optimism is thinking that things are more likely to get better than they are to get worse. If you believe in that, and you are grateful for it, that'll sustain you the rest of your life," he added.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

Inside J Lo and Ben Affleck's massive new marital mansion

<p>Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have officially tied the knot and it seems they’ve celebrated their nuptials by living large and purchasing a lavish new property.</p> <p>The two stars were spotted house hunting back in May, and in June, it was reported that they had settled on a stunning Beverly Hills mansion that was once owned by Danny DeVito.</p> <p>While the couple has yet to confirm if they have purchased the property, moving vehicles were also reportedly spotted outside of each of their respective homes, leading many to believe that they have now moved into the mansion together.</p> <p>Lopez and Affleck's rumored new abode was most recently owned by Australian billionaire James Packer, who's the former fiancé of Mariah Carey.</p> <p>DeVito and Perlman sold the seven-bedroom home in 2015 for $28 million to developers Stuart and Stephanie Liner. The Liners then made numerous upgrades to the estate and listed it for $85 million. Packer then bought the property for around $60 million in 2018.</p> <p>It's unclear what Lopez and Affleck paid for the house, and there's a shroud of mystery surrounding the deal, since the house was not even listed for sale when they reportedly bought it.</p> <p>In fact, real estate experts have said it hadn't even been shown off-market, with the exception, potentially, being to Lopez and Affleck.</p> <p>The house sprawls across 29,000-square-feet, which would allow ample space for the couple's blended brood of five children.</p> <p>The massive estate is also said to have many luxury amenities and perks, including an at-home movie theater, a hair salon, a gym, an entertainment room, a wine cellar, a sprawling pool, and even multiple guest houses.</p> <p>The marble kitchen is a chef’s dream, complete with two ovens, an 11-burner stove, two islands, and multiple drawers and cabinets for optimal storage space.</p> <p>The spacious dining area can seat up to 12 people, so the family will certainly have enough space to stretch out during dinner time.</p> <p>The master bedroom is fit for royalty and comes with an enormous walk-in closet with rows upon rows of storage for the couple's glamorous wardrobes.</p> <p>The mansion sits on 1.29 acres of land, and it also comes complete with an eight-car garage.</p> <p>The couple was spotted shopping for homes around various swanky areas of Los Angeles for several months before reportedly making the purchase.</p> <p><em>Images: Hilton & Hyland</em></p>

Real Estate

90s RnB immortalised in the Super Bowl halftime show

<p dir="ltr">In an epic salute to 90s hip-hop and RnB music, a selection of industry legends took to the stage at the Super Bowl half time show in California on Sunday. </p><p dir="ltr">Leading the charge was LA’s finest Dr Dre, who promised big surprises during the set that he reportedly dropped almost $10 million on. </p><p dir="ltr">The stage was a replica of a Californian neighbourhood, with the performances taking place on the roofs and in different rooms of the enormous set that sat in centre field.</p><p dir="ltr">As the show began, Dr Dre opened with this 1995 smash hit <em>California Love</em>, which earned a roar from the native West Coast crowd. </p><p dir="ltr">Joining Dre on stage was his lifelong protege and collaborator Snoop Dogg, before rapper 50 Cent made a surprise appearance with his 2003 anthem <em>In Da Club</em>. </p><p dir="ltr">The next artist to hit the stage was Mary J. Blige, as she belted out her 2001 hit <em>Family Affair</em>, before launching into her hit track <em>No More Drama</em>.</p><p dir="ltr">Following Mary J. Blige was a newer rapper on the scene Kendrick Lamar, who shot to fame in the early 2010s after being inspired by his idols on the stage.</p><p dir="ltr">Lamar popped out of a cardboard box for his performance while being surrounded by dancers who donned “Dre Day” sashes for their epic choreographed dance routine. </p><p dir="ltr">Last to the stage was rap legend Eminem, who launched into his 2002 epic song <em>Lose Yourself</em>, making the crowd go wild over this motivational anthem.</p><p dir="ltr">As the performers joined together for a final moment on the stage, the 15 minute performance ended with a standing ovation from the 80,000-strong crowd of the SoFi stadium. </p><p dir="ltr">The 2022 show was the first year the epic NFL event has fully embraced a hip-hop act for the half time entertainment. </p><p dir="ltr">"We're gonna open more doors for hip hop artists in the future and making sure that the NFL understands this is what it should have been a long time ago," Dr. Dre said at a press conference before the show.</p><p dir="ltr">"We're gonna show exactly how professional we can be, how dope we can be on stage and how exciting we are going to be to the fans."</p><p dir="ltr">Check out the performance <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdsUKphmB3Y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. </p><p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-0310ebbe-7fff-fcbb-6595-bd320d47f248">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Music

5 minutes with author P J McKay

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">5 minutes with the Author</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, <em>OverSixty</em> asks book writers about their literary habits and preferences. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next in the series is <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.pjmckayauthor.com/" target="_blank">P J McKay</a>, a novelist and mum-of-three based in Auckland. After training and working as a food scientist, McKay began writing while undertaking her Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Auckland. During her studies, McKay was inspired by her travels through former Yugoslavia to pen her debut novel, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Telling Time</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. After winning the 2020 First Pages Prize, McKay’s novel is now available.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OverSixty</span> </em><span style="font-weight: 400;">sat down with McKay to chat about representing New Zealand’s Croatian community, her current reads, and the role cooking played in her novel.</span></p> <p><strong>O60: What book(s) are you reading right now?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My current book on the go is <em>Betty</em> by Tiffany McDaniel — insights into the Cherokee Indian culture are an added bonus and despite the tough themes I’m enjoying cheering this resilient young woman on.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And I have just finished two novels:</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Crazy Love</em> by Rosetta Allan — A love story with a twist. A triumph of love conquering adversity. A no-holes barred insight in the realities of supporting our mentally unwell. This is Rosetta’s third novel. She manages to inject humour into what’s a tough subject to tackle and never allows the story to wallow.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And for something much lighter, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Take me Home</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by Karly Lane — transports the reader from Australia to Scotland. A feel-good story with a dash of romance. </span></p> <p><strong>O60: Does your training in food science influence your writing in any way?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Great question! There are a few food descriptions peppered through <em>The Telling Time</em>. My love of cooking (and consuming food!) has most definitely influenced this. Some reviewers have noted it as a bonus to be transported by these descriptions. Any reference to food is of course relevant to the era and/or the setting but given the aroma, taste or even just the sight of food transports us to different settings it can be a useful and fun tool to employ: think Greece and Mediterranean dishes, or traditional Australasian sweet treats — lamingtons for example — or food which is typical in Croatia, such as <em>črostule</em>, <em>njoki</em>, <em>špek</em> or the local wine on Korčula, <em>Pošip</em>. As an author I invite the reader to use all their senses when imagining my characters in scene. If I get their taste buds watering then that’s a bonus. </span></p> <p><strong>O60: How did you start writing historical fiction?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s the genre which I enjoy most as a reader and my background roles in research were also very helpful. The nugget for this novel came from my own experience when backpacking in the late 1980s tied in with my interest in the immigrant experience and for <em>The Telling Time</em>, the Croatian diaspora. I also wanted the novel to encompass the mother/daughter relationship, hence the dual timeline that includes the late 1950s and 1989. It’s scary to think that these two eras now count as historical! When researching for a novel like this it means going back even further in time. <em>The Telling Time</em> references events from the early 20</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">th</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Century, WWIII, and the events that followed afterward, particularly in the former Yugoslavia. I love that historical fiction often gifts the reader information they didn’t previously know. This for me is the joy of historical fiction writing; finding those facts to thread through the fiction to ensure the ‘world of the novel’ is credible. </span></p> <p><strong>O60: <em>The Telling Time</em> was inspired by your travels and the connections you made with the local Croatian community. How did it feel to represent this community with your novel? </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I feel privileged to have been privy to stories from the Croatian community and delighted to shine some light on what makes this group unique, but also what unites their stories with other immigrant groups. It is always tricky finding the balance when representing a community that is not your own lived experience. For me, it was important to observe and listen at the local Dalmatian club when attending club nights and events. There were excellent resources to draw on at the club — their cultural museum and language tutor who checked my use of Croatian words/phrases in the novel — and having the novel reviewed by Dr Nina Nola from the University of Auckland’s English department was another essential step. Nina’s mother immigrated to New Zealand from Hvar in the 1950s. This is a novel, and therefore a work of fiction, but staying true to the culture and customs is an essential component and the feedback from readers of Croatian heritage suggests I have succeeded in getting the balance and details right. Of course, when Croatian publishers Znanje d.o. bought the translation rights for the novel earlier this year (to be published there in June 2022) this was a further seal of approval. I felt both proud and delighted that I would soon be able to gift copies of the translated novel to the club. </span></p> <p><strong>O60: What book or books do you think are underrated?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That’s a curly question! <em>The Lost Lights of St Kilda</em> by Elisabeth Gifford is a gentle historic novel, published last year which I thoroughly enjoyed but don’t hear a lot about now. And I’ll put in a plug for fellow New Zealand author, Rosetta Allan, mentioned above. Along with <em>Crazy Love</em>, her two other novels, <em>Purgatory</em> and <em>The Unreliable People</em>, are both fabulous reads that deserve more air-time!!</span></p> <p><strong>O60: How do you deal with writer’s block?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I found the best solution was to chat more. By this I mean nutting out a problem with trusted friends or asking a question which then often provided a lead, or new tangent to explore. There was one dire moment of writer’s block when I was desperate to get my character, Gabrijela, out of the house. I asked Mum for ideas about social events in the 1950s and she told me how popular a day at the races was along with a personal story about backing an outside runner called Red Glare. Bingo! Guess where Gabrijela was now off to! Critique was also a valuable tool, especially during my Masters in Creative Writing year at Auckland University. It challenges you to think harder and strive to improve, to iron out the creases waiting to trip the reader out of their suspended disbelief.</span></p> <p><strong>O60: Which author, dead or alive, would you most like to have dinner with?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Has to be Janine Cummins, who wrote </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">American Dirt</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: Supplied</span></em></p>

Books

Jane Fonda talks about working with Lily Tomlin

<p>When Jane Fonda was last in Australia, we asked her what it’s been like working with Lily Tomlin on the much-acclaimed Netflix series, <em>Grace and Frankie. </em></p> <p>Fonda told us working with Tomlin was: “Paradise. I admire her and love her so much.”</p> <p>“It’s like working with a genius… She really is – there are so many people inside of her. Watching her work and watching how she is in life, is an inspiration.”</p> <p>“I feel so lucky to be part of Team Lily,” she concluded. You can watch her talking in the video below.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bLpsP045rWE" title="YouTube video player" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <p><strong>Four episodes of the seventh and final season of Grace and Frankie released </strong></p> <p>So far, there are four episodes of the seventh and final season of G<em>race and Frankie</em> streaming on Netflix because filming was delayed because of COVID. Netflix says it plans to load more episodes as they’re available.</p> <p>Many of us have enjoyed this Emmy-nominated series and this is majorly due to the great work from the actors Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Netflix announced last year that the seventh season will be the last of the series but it still makes the show the longest-running original Netflix series to date.</p> <p>The first season of <em>Grace and Frankie </em>premiered in May 2015 and all the previous six seasons of the hit show are now streaming on Netflix.</p> <p>With the addition of this seventh season, which will end up consisting of 16 episodes, the show will have run for 94 episodes – a large number and this is what makes the show is Netflix’s longest-running original series to date.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/useJWxOqbJI" title="YouTube video player" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <p><strong>The star power <em>of Grace and Frankie</em></strong></p> <p><em>Grace and Frankie </em>has always had all the components needed to keep us glued to our screens whenever we watch it. As well as Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, it also features Martin Sheen and Sam Waterson as their husbands. </p> <p>B<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Decker">rooklyn Decker</a> plays Mallory Hanson, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_Embry">Ethan Embry</a> plays Coyote Bergstein, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Diane_Raphael">June Diane Raphael</a> is Brianna Hanson and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_Vaughn">Baron Vaughn</a> is Bud Bergstein.</p> <p>The show has won fans all along the way because it has such an interesting storyline – all revolving around Grace and Frankie, who’ve know each other for many years because of the long-standing friendship between their husbands.</p> <p>That is, until their two husbands come out and say they’re gay and they wish to live as a couple. This leaves the women to live their own life and although they’re very different, they find they bond through this experience.</p> <p>The series was created by Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris and airs on Netflix. As Kauffman and Morris have said: “It’s thrilling and somehow fitting, that our show about the challenges, as well as the beauty and dignity of aging, will be the oldest show on Netflix.”</p> <p><em>Images and Video: YouTube</em></p> <p><em> </em></p>

Movies

Michael J. Fox opens up about secret health battle

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Michael J. Fox, who has battled Parkinson’s disease for decades, says the lowest moment in his life happened while he was recovering from an unrelated health issue. </p> <p>In 2018, the 59-year-old actor underwent a risky spinal cord surgery to remove a non-cancerous tumour.</p> <p>“I was heading for paralysis if I didn’t get it operated on,” he told People. A few months later, the Family Ties star, who had to learn to walk again, was alone in his family’s New York City apartment when he fell and shattered his arm.</p> <p>“That was definitely my darkest moment,” he said.</p> <p>“I just snapped. I was leaning against the wall in my kitchen, waiting for the ambulance to come, and I felt like, ‘This is as low as it gets for me.’</p> <p>“It was when I questioned everything. Like, ‘I can’t put a shiny face on this. There’s no bright side to this, no upside. This is just all regret and pain’.”</p> <p>While he’s known to be an optimistic person, his positive attitude began dwindling.</p> <p>“Parkinson’s, my back, my arm … it still didn’t add up to moving the needle on the misery index compared to what some people go through,” he said. “I thought, ‘How can I tell these people, chin up; look at the bright side; things are going to be great?’”</p> <p>Fox revealed that he convalesced by watching game shows from the ’70s and slowly regained his positive outlook.</p> <p>“Optimism is really rooted in gratitude,” he said. “Optimism is sustainable when you keep coming back to gratitude, and what follows from that is acceptance. Accepting that this thing has happened, and you accept it for what it is. It doesn’t mean that you can’t endeavour to change.</p> <p>“It doesn’t mean you have to accept it as a punishment or a penance, but just put it in its proper place. Then see how much the rest of your life you have to thrive in, and then you can move on.”</p> <p>These days, Fox lives a quiet life with his wife Tracy Pollan and their four children, son Sam, 31, twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, 25, and daughter Esme, 19.</p> <p>“I’m actually having a really good time,” he said.</p> <p>“People don’t believe me, but I love life. I love being with my family. I love being with Tracy. I love that I don’t do a lot of useless stuff that I used to do, because I don’t have the energy or the time. I’m grateful that I went through a crucible there in my late 50s. I figured some of this crap out finally.”</p> <p>Fox’s new memoir No Time Like The Future comes out on November 17.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper"> <div class="post-actions-component"> <div class="upper-row"></div> </div> </div>

News

Why Australians fell out of love with Holdens

<p>The jingle used to tell us we loved “football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars”.</p> <p>These days we <a href="https://www.caradvice.com.au/817278/vfacts-2019-new-car-sales-results/">love</a> Japanese utes and small Toyotas, Hyundais and Mazdas more.</p> <p>Monday’s <a href="https://media.gm.com/media/au/en/holden/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/au/en/2020/feb/0217_Holden.html">announcement</a> from General Motors, Holden’s US parent, that the brand will be “retired” and local design and engineering operations cease is doubtless based on strong financial reasoning, but poor brand management is also part of it.</p> <p><strong>The numbers didn’t stack up</strong></p> <p>Sales of Holden vehicles and a <a href="https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/car-insurance/research/australian-car-sales-statistics.html">shift</a> from large sedans to small and medium sized cars and sportscars and SUVs didn’t help.</p> <p>At its peak, between 2002 and 2005, Holden sold more than <a href="https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/the-decline-of-holden-and-the-commodore-in-numbers">170,000</a> vehicles a year. By 2019 it sold less than 40,000; none of them made here.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VGW-WX77zjY?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span class="caption">Holden ad, 1970s.</span></p> <p>In November, it sold just 2,668 cars, down from 5,125 the previous November.</p> <p>Global competition from Japan, Korea and Thailand for brands like Kia and Hyundai, <a href="https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-advice/australian-car-market-car-sales-statistics-and-figures-70982">added to its woes</a>.</p> <p>Internationally, Holden was only present in two small markets, Australian and New Zealand, which between them don’t even account for 1% of global sales, and require steering columns on the right hand side of car. It has made Holdens hard to internationalise.</p> <p>Monday’s <a href="https://media.gm.com/media/au/en/holden/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/au/en/2020/feb/0217_Holden.html">press release</a> blamed “highly fragmented right-hand-drive markets”, the cost of growing the brand, and the unlikelihood of achieving a decent return on the investment if it tried.</p> <p>General Motors isn’t even going to bother to sell foreign-made sedans in Australia, although it will continue to sell speciality vehicles.</p> <p>Yet its brand is ingrained in Australian history.</p> <p><strong>Holden defined a brand</strong></p> <p>Brands are a combination of tangible and intangible elements. Among the tangible elements are visual design elements, like logos, colour, images and packaging, such as the Holden “Lion and Stone” and distinctive product features, such as the feel of the leather, the sound of a roaring V8 and the quality of the duco.</p> <p>But that is only part of what makes a brand. Tangible elements can be easily copied and are a feature of nearly all products. The challenge is to develop and leverage intangible qualities.</p> <p>These can include experiences (such as service) and feelings such as reputation, personality and <a href="http://www.ignytebrands.com/the-psychology-of-brand-personality/">values</a>.</p> <p>Nostalgia is a Holden value. Its rich history, dating back to 1856, has helped define the brand.</p> <p>Many of us who grew up in the 1970s remember family car trips to the beach in a Kingswood station wagon. In the 1980s, we watched <a href="https://www.mount-panorama.com.au/history/race-results/27-bathurst-1000-winners">Brock, Richards and Perkins</a> win Bathurst. Movies like <a href="https://www.imcdb.org/v589530.html">Puberty Blues</a> made the Holden Sandman panel van every young man’s dream, and every parent’s worse nightmare.</p> <p><strong>General Motors killed it</strong></p> <p>Being <a href="https://www.cmo.com.au/article/659053/marketing-professor-holden-brand-nostalgia-ain-t-what-it-used/">Australian</a> was at the core of that identity.</p> <p>General Motors took it away.</p> <p>On October 20, 2017 it stopped production of all Australian-made vehicles and began importing Commodores from Germany.</p> <p>Then in December last year it axed the Commodore, after 41 years.</p> <p>It killed the value that was left in the brand.</p> <p>We fell out of love with Holden because it fell out of love with us.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/131907/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gary-mortimer-1322">Gary Mortimer</a>, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-australians-fell-out-of-love-with-holdens-131907">original article</a>.</em></p>

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