Michael J Fox has spoken of his shock at learning that his friend, the late comedian Robin Williams, had been suffering from the early stages of Parkinson’s Disease. 
 
 Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider, revealed the diagnosis in a statement yesterday (14 August). 
 
 “Robin's sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with depression and anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson's disease which he was not yet ready to share publicly,” she said. 
 
 The Back to the Future actor told his followers on Twitter he was “stunned” to learn the news. 
 
 Fox, who was diagnosed with the incurable condition in 1991, went on to say that he was “pretty sure” that Williams’ support and fundraising for his Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research far predated the comedian’s own prognosis. 
 
 Famously kind, ferociously funny, a genius and a gentle soul. What a loss. #RobinWilliams Michael J. Fox (@realmikefox) August 12, 2014 
 
 Stunned to learn Robin had PD. Pretty sure his support for our Fdn predated his diagnosis. A true friend; I wish him peace. Michael J. Fox (@realmikefox) August 14, 2014 
 
 Sufferers of Parkinson’s disease often experience tremors, slowed movement and stiffened, inflexible muscles as the brain becomes progressively damaged over the years. 
 
 Those with Parkinson’s may also experience other physical and psychological symptoms, including depression, insomnia, loss of a sense of smell and loss of memory. 
 
 In pictures: Robin Williams 1951 - 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 25 show all In pictures: Robin Williams 1951 - 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1/25 Mrs Doubtfire Robin Williams with Sally Field in Mrs Doubtfire 
 
 2/25 Oscar He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for 'Good Will Hunting' in 1997 Getty 
 
 3/25 Mork and Mindy In Mork and Mindy, the TV series that launched his career in the 1970s Rex 
 
 4/25 The Tonight Show On 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' in 2004. Williams was renowned for his hyperactive appearances on talk shows Getty 
 
 5/25 Williams' hand and footprint ceremony Williams with two of his children, Cody (centre) and Zelda, and his wife, Marsha, during his hand and footprint ceremony outside the Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in 1998 
 
 6/25 Premiere of Old Dogs Robin Williams and his wife Susan Schneider at the premiere of "Old Dogs" in Los Angeles on 9 November 2009 
 
 7/25 Tour de France US cyclist Lance Armstrong chatting with US actor Robin Williams after he won the 91st Tour de France cycling race between Valreas and Villard-de-Lans on 20 July 2004 
 
 8/25 Annual People's Choice Awards Presenter Robin Williams speaks during the 35th Annual People's Choice Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on 7 January 2009 in Los Angeles, California Getty 
 
 9/25 The Big Wedding All star cast: Susan Sarandon, Robert De Niro and Robin Williams star in The Big Wedding 
 
 10/25 Building homes Robin Williams Helps Build Homes With Habitat For Humanity, 4 December 2000 in Wilmington Getty 
 
 11/25 Premiere of Man of the Year Robin Williams and wife Marsha Garces Williams arriving for the premiere of Universal Pictures "Man of the Year" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on 4 October 2006 
 
 12/25 CW, CBS And Showtime 2013 Summer TCA Party Robin Williams at the CW, CBS And Showtime 2013 Summer TCA Party on 29 July 2013 in Los Angeles, California Jason Kempin/Getty Images 
 
 13/25 Holiday Troop Visit Robin Williams and US celebrity Lewis Black (L) laughing in the back stage during the entertaining performance of "Holiday Troop Visit" by US celebrities for Christmas at boardwalk stage of the Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan on 16 December 2010 
 
 14/25 Andre Agassi's Grand Slam for Children press conference Robin Williams speaks during the Andre Agassi's Grand Slam for Children press conference at the MGM Grand Hotel, 2 October 2004 in Las Vegas, Neveda Getty 
 
 15/25 Golden Globe Robin Williams holds his Golden Globe after winning for best actor in a comedy for his role in 'Mrs. Doubtfire' 22 January 1994 Getty 
 
 16/25 Premiere of Happy Feet Two Robin Williams attends the Premiere of Warner Brothers Pictures' "Happy Feet Two" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on 13 November 2011 in Hollywood 
 
 17/25 Good Will Hunting Matt Damon and Ben Affleck pose with actor Robin Williams with their Oscars they won for 'Good Will Hunting' at the 70th Annual Academy Awards 23 March in Los Angeles Getty 
 
 18/25 Mork and Mindy Robin Williams in 1980 with Pam Dawber, his co-star in the Mork and Mindy TV series Rex 
 
 19/25 The Crazy Ones Robin Williams with his Mork and Mindy co-star Pam Dawber in The Crazy Ones series, 2014 
 
 20/25 Yankees versus Pittsburgh Pirates Robin Williams attends a game between the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates during the Grapefruit League Spring Training game on 13 March 2008 at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida Getty 
 
 21/25 Posing Robin Williams poses for a portrait during the 35th Annual People's Choice Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on 7 January 2009 in Los Angeles, California Michael Caulfield/Getty Images for PCA 
 
 22/25 Cecil B. DeMille Award Robin Williams holds his Cecil B. DeMille Award with award presenter Pierce Brosnan at the 62nd annual Golden Globe Awards show 16 January 2005 in Beverly Hills Getty 
 
 23/25 Happy Feet Two Robin Williams laughs with Elijah Wood on arrival for the world premiere of the movie 'Happy Feet Two' in Hollywood on 13 November 2011 Getty 
 
 24/25 Tony Awards Robin Williams speaks during the 65th Annual Tony Awards at the Beacon Theatre on 12 June 2011 in New York City Getty 
 
 25/25 AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Mike Nichols Actor Robin Williams speaks on stage during the 38th AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Mike Nichols held at Sony Pictures Studios on 10 June 2010 in Culver City, California Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI 
 
 Williams, 63, was found dead on Monday after hanging himself at his home in Tiburon, California. 
 
 His daughter, Zelda Williams, talked of the last day they spent together on his recent birthday, when she and her brothers shared “gifts and laughter”. 
 
 Robin Williams and his wife Susan Schneider at the premiere of "Old Dogs" in Los Angeles on 9 November 2009 
 
 “He was always warm, even in his darkest moments,” the 25-year-old said. 
 
 “While I'll never, ever understand how he could be loved so deeply and not find it in his heart to stay, there's minor comfort in knowing our grief and loss, in some small way, is shared with millions.” 
 
 Barack Obama, Prince Charles, Steven Spielberg and countless actors who worked with Williams in his decades-long career were among those who shared their memories of the comedian in an unprecedented outpouring of tributes. ||||| Actor Michael J. Fox was "stunned" to learn Robin Williams battled Parkinson's disease. 
 
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 Fox tweeted his response today after Williams' wife, Susan Schneider, released a statement saying her husband was in the early stages of Parkinson's disease. Williams, 63, was found dead in his California home on Monday. 
 
 "Robin's sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson's Disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly," read the statement from Schneider. "It is our hope in the wake of Robin’s tragic passing, that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid." 
 
 Stunned to learn Robin had PD. Pretty sure his support for our Fdn predated his diagnosis. A true friend; I wish him peace. — Michael J. Fox (@realmikefox) August 14, 2014 
 
 Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, according to his foundation. He disclosed his condition seven years later. 
 
 Read: Robin Williams Was in 'Early Stages of Parkinson's Disease' 
 
 Read: Actor Robin Williams Is Dead at 63 of Suspected Suicide 
 
 Read: How the 66th Emmy Awards Show Will Honor Robin Williams 
 
 According to the National Institutes of Health, Parkinson's is a movement disorder, which attacks the nerve cells in the brain, and results in trembling of the hands, arms, legs and face, eventually leading to slowness of movement, coordination problems and trouble walking or doing simple tasks. It is a progressive disease and only gets worse over time.
– Michael J. Fox says he was "stunned" to discover that his friend, supporter, and former prime-time rival Robin Williams also suffered from Parkinson's Disease. "Stunned to learn Robin had PD. Pretty sure his support for our Fdn predated his diagnosis. A true friend; I wish him peace," Fox tweeted, referring to Williams' fundraising for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the Independent reports. Williams was in the early stages of the disease, his wife revealed yesterday. Fox, who described Williams as "famously kind, ferociously funny, a genius, and a gentle soul," was diagnosed with the disease in 1991, but did not make the diagnosis public until seven years later, ABC notes.