Michael J. Fox made a rare public appearance on Thursday, November 5, to induct his longtime friend George Stephanopoulos onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 65-year-old actor took to the stage in a wheelchair and spoke about a friendship that dates back to 1994. Stephanopoulos, the Good Morning America co-anchor, received his star alongside his co-host Robin Roberts, whose star was placed next to his. The two became the 2,862nd and 2,863rd stars on the Walk of Fame.
Michael J. Fox has lived with Parkinson’s disease since 1991, when he was diagnosed at 29 while filming Doc Hollywood. He has made few public appearances in recent years, and his presence at the ceremony drew attention on its own. He spoke warmly about Stephanopoulos and joked through much of the speech, including a line nominating his friend for president. The ceremony was held at 11:30 a.m. Pacific time and streamed live on the Walk of Fame website.
Michael J. Fox jokes about a 2028 campaign
Fox opened the joke early in his remarks. “The reason we’re all here is for the 2028 presidential election. And I hereby nominate my buddy, George Stephanopoulos,” he said. He teased his friend about their habits over three decades together, saying Stephanopoulos calls at 7 in the morning to make lunch plans, has dinner at 5:30 and is out the door by 6. “I just think it’s a ruse to not pay the bill,” Fox said. He added that the two of them have a lot in common: they are both “men of average height” and “we’re both lousy golfers.”
Michael J. Fox closed the speech with a direct tribute. “Congratulations George, keep living a blessed life,” he said. “I love you and I love your family and I couldn’t be more thrilled than to see you have a star on the Walk of Fame.” Fox said Stephanopoulos takes his job on Good Morning America very seriously because he is proud of the work he gets to do. The speech drew applause from the crowd gathered on Hollywood Boulevard, which included both men’s families.
Michael J. Fox and the foundation link
The friendship between the two men runs through more than social life. Stephanopoulos has served on the board of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the organisation Fox set up to fund research into the disease. Fox was diagnosed in 1991, and the foundation has been part of his public life ever since. Stephanopoulos has supported its work for years, and Fox’s tribute at the ceremony touched on that shared history as well as their personal friendship.
Michael J. Fox’s son Sam, 37, attended the ceremony and stood by his father for photographs with Stephanopoulos and his family. Fox recalled his own Walk of Fame ceremony, held on December 16, 2002, when his mother had attended along with Sam, then a small child. “My son was there and he’s here today. He’s 37,” Fox said during his remarks. Sam seldom appears in public and is said to prefer a quieter life, but he joined his father for the occasion.
Two stars side by side
The ceremony was hosted by Michael Strahan, the Good Morning America co-anchor who introduced Michael J. Fox to the stage. Strahan received his own Walk of Fame star in 2023. Actress and comedian Niecy Nash-Betts also spoke at the event. Stephanopoulos was joined by his wife, Ali Wentworth, and their daughters Elliott, 24, and Harper, 21. Roberts and Stephanopoulos were announced as part of the Walk of Fame’s Class of 2026 last year, and producer Ana Martinez said it was a privilege to honour them with a double star for their contributions to broadcasting.
Stephanopoulos served as an adviser to former President Bill Clinton during Clinton’s first term in office, then joined ABC News in 1996. He has co-anchored Good Morning America since 2009, alongside Roberts. The two stars sit side by side on the walkway, marking more than 15 years of the pair anchoring the morning programme together. Michael J. Fox has known Stephanopoulos since 1994, and their children have spent family holidays together, including a trip to Greece.
Michael J. Fox received his own star in 2002, more than two decades before he returned to the walkway to induct his friend. He spoke from a wheelchair, shook hands with Strahan after the anchor introduced him, and stayed for photographs with both honorees and their families. The ceremony ended with the two new stars unveiled side by side on Hollywood Boulevard.