Michael J Fox received a standing ovation at the BAFTA awards ceremony (6 photos + 1 video)

The 62-year-old actor stood up from his wheelchair to present the award for Best Picture. The star of the Back to the Future trilogy has been battling Parkinson's disease for almost 30 years. Fox was overcome with emotion as the audience gave him a standing ovation.





Fox announced Oppenheimer as the Best Picture winner at a ceremony held at London's Royal Festival Hall.



“It’s not for nothing that they say that cinema is magic, because films can change your day. They can change your worldview, and sometimes your life,” said Michael.

Celebrities including Cate Blanchett, Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie rose from their seats to support the actor.

In January, the five-time Emmy winner won the award for the documentary "Unchanged: Michael J. Fox."





Fox announced his diagnosis in 1998 and has been open about his ongoing battle with the degenerative disease of the central nervous system.

"One day I'll run out of gas. One day I'll just say, 'Enough is enough.' I'm not leaving the house today." And I won't force myself. I'm 62 years old," he told Town & Country in November. "Of course, if I died tomorrow, it would be premature, but it wouldn't be anything... something unheard of. So no, I'm not afraid of it."



Fox came to the BAFTA ceremony with his wife Tracy Pollan.



Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. The disease primarily affects dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra.

The actor was diagnosed with the disease in 1991, at the age of 29.

Fox has suffered several physical injuries in recent years, including a broken arm, shoulder and hand.



In 2000, Fox founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease Research, which has helped many get the help and support they need to combat the disease.

A man in a suit and bandana ran onto the stage and stood behind Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy and Emma Thomas as they accepted the festival's main award, Best Picture. The ceremony was not interrupted. Thomas delivered her acceptance speech in full, after which the online broadcast was suspended.