 |
 |
The National Post March 23, 2002 Canadian actor unfazed by possible link between disease and CBC sitcom Four veterans of same 1970s show have Parkinson's Ian Bailey National Post VANCOUVER - Michael J. Fox, the Emmy-honoured actor who left a successful television series due to Parkinson's disease, is well aware that he is among four people diagnosed with the illness since working on a CBC sitcom shot in Vancouver in the late 1970s, but not interested in making much of the matter, says the director of a new documentary. Jerry Thompson says he discussed the situation with the actor off-camera last spring while the former Spin City star was sitting for an interview that will be featured in the CTV program, The Parkinson's Enigma, which airs April 7. "[Mr. Fox] shrugged," said Mr. Thompson, a B.C.- based documentary producer. "[His] position, generally speaking, [was] that rather than obsessing with what was the possible culprit or cause, he would rather spend his time and energy finding the cure." Neurologists have suggested exposure to toxins or viruses can eventually trigger Parkinson's, a degenerative disease characterized by tremors and stiffness that affects about one million people. Leo & Me featured Mr. Fox as Jamie, the nephew of Leo (Brent Carver), who lives on a boat off Vancouver and gets into all sorts of trouble. Thirteen episodes of the series were aired in 1981. Mr. Fox, a native of the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby, was 15 when he worked on the show, which was shot at CBC studios in Vancouver. Three other Leo veterans have been diagnosed with Parkinson's: a script supervisor, director and cameraman who worked on the series. The script supervisor has been identified as Sally Gardner, who lives on Vancouver Island. The others, aside from Mr. Fox, have not been identified. Mr. Thompson said the situation is striking, especially because the general incidence of Parkinson's is one in 300 in the general population. "So four people from a group of about 125 is a mathematical anomaly," he said. But Mr. Fox, featured in such films as Back to the Future and on television in such programs as Family Ties, was wary about rousing others to futile action over the situation, Mr. Thompson said. "We agreed we were not going to discuss it at any depth because I think Michael was very sensitive about not wanting to foment a great uproar over this for fear somebody was going to attack the CBC in a lawsuit or something about sick- building syndrome when you couldn't prove it." Without specific research, Mr. Thompson said, there is no way to understand the Leo & Me coincidence. "All we can do is draw your attention to the anomaly which makes you wonder, 'Hey. What's going on?,' " he said. "It will always be an enigma in all likelihood." Mr. Fox, 40, left his starring role on Spin City to focus on fundraising for Parkinson's research. He said Mr. Fox was energetic and in good spirits during his interview, but displayed writhing movements associated as a side effect with one of the Parkinson's medication. However, he explained the situation on camera. He said Mr. Fox had been informed of the Leo & Me situation by a cameraman on the series. [log in to unmask] SOURCE: The National Post http://www.nationalpost.com/news/national/story.html?f=/stories/20020323/425059.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn