Michael J. Fox reflects on ‘dumpster diving for food’ while struggling in Hollywood before Parkinson's disease

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Family Ties star Meredith Baxter talks working with Michael J. Fox

Meredith Baxter recalls working with Michael J. Fox on "Family Ties" and watching his star rise as the show went on. 

As Michael J. Fox continues his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s Disease, he reflected on the sacrifices he made to become a successful Hollywood actor.

The "Back to the Future" star was determined to succeed in the industry, even if it meant being a starving artist for a while. 

"I was 18 years old, with no money, no connections, literally dumpster diving for food," Fox said during an interview with Variety.

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Although the 61-year-old actor went through several rough patches and failed auditions, Fox continued to have a go-getter attitude. 

Michael J. Fox reflected on the sacrifices he made to become a successful Hollywood actor. (Getty Images)

"I was sitting around with all these actors, and I remember thinking, ‘Why is this going to work for me and not for them?’" he recalled.

"It’s not that I wished them unhappiness or bad luck…I wished them all the success in the world. But I knew I was going to make it. God knows why. I was living on the margins."

Fox eventually landed his breakout role as Alex P. Keaton in the hit sitcom "Family Ties," and is famously known for his character Marty McFly in "Back to the Future."

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He was originally advised to pass on the film due to scheduling, but continued to hustle day and night between the two roles. He filmed "Family Ties" in the daytime, then immediately went to work on "Back to the Future," losing countless hours of sleep. 

Michael J. Fox became a star with his role on "Family Ties" and is now dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease. (NBC / Terry Wyatt)

"I was running on adrenaline," Fox told outlet. 

"I barely knew where I was, and I didn’t really know what I was doing. That served the film because Marty’s supposed to be disoriented."

Once "Family Ties" ended after seven seasons, and he was done working on "Back to the Future," Fox booked a few more acting gigs before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at the age of 29.

The "Back to the Future" star's documentary "Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie" premieres on Apple TV+ May 12. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for SXSW)

"It’s such a s---ty disease," Fox admitted. 

"I didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t want to deal with it. It didn’t fit my story. I just shut down."

To numb the pain, Fox turned to alcohol and then his life started to spiral.

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Michael J. Fox established The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in 2000. (Frazer Harrison)

During another recent interview, Fox speculated whether his partying could have led to his Parkinson’s disease. 

Fox was asked on CBS Mornings earlier this month if it was actually possible that he could have done some kind of damage that led to his diagnosis, and he answered, "Yeah, very possible."

"I mean, there's so many ways that you can ... that I could've hurt myself," he explained.

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"I could've hit my head. I could've drank too much at a certain developmental period."

Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan have been married since 1988. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)

While Fox has an advocate for Parkinson’s research for more than two decades, he has recently been very outspoken about his battle and perspective on mortality.

"It’s just a nice way of people letting me know they are moved by my acceptance of things and by the way that I’ve tried to make a difference," he concluded in his interview with Variety.

"But no matter how much I sit here and talk to you about how I’ve philosophically accepted it and taken its weight, Parkinson’s is still kicking my ass. I won’t win at this. I will lose. But, there’s plenty to be gained in the loss."

Fox News Digital's Emily Trainham contributed to this report.