He has battled tirelessly to find a cure for Parkinson's since being diagnosed with the illness aged 29.

And Michael J. Fox supported the cause that's so close to home in a special gig for his charity The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in New York on Saturday night.

The actor, 55, gave a passionate guitar performance reminiscent of his Back To The Future days at the 'A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson's' gala at The Waldorf Astoria.

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Personal cause: Parkinson's sufferer Michael J. Fox gave a special gig for his charity The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in New York on Saturday night

The Stuart Little star looked dapper in a white shirt and black tie as he concentrated intensely on a guitar riff.

31 years on from Back To The Future, the actor still looked remarkably youthful as he sang and entertained the crowds.

In the 1985 science fiction flick, he plays teenage musician Marty McFly, who gives a killer solo at a high school dance.

The father-of-four set up The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in 2000 after learning he had the illness in 1991.

The Canadian-American actor publicly announced he had the illness after having brain surgery in 1999 to control his shaking.

Looks familiar! The actor, 55, gave a passionate guitar performance reminiscent of his Back To The Future days (pictured)

Youthful: The Stuart Little star looked dapper in a white shirt and black tie as he concentrated intensely on a guitar riff

Michael described the day doctors gave him 10 years to live after diagnosing him with the illness aged 29.

'It was pretty scary,' he told David Letterman last April. 'I was 29 years old and so it was the last thing I expected to hear.

'I thought I'd hurt my shoulder doing some stunt because I had a twitch in my pinkie.

'He [The doctor] said, "The good news is that you have 10 years of work left." That was 22 years ago and I'm still working.'

Rocking out: The Canadian-American actor concentrated intensely on his guitar riffs as he performed with musician Dave Matthews

Harrowing: Doctors gave Michael 10 years to live after diagnosing him with the illness aged 29 back in 1991

When asked how he handled the diagnosis, the star replied: 'There are things on the face [of it] that are much worse, that are terminal and really hopeless situations and it wasn't that.

'I just knew I was going to have to make adjustments and I didn't know what I was gonna have to adjust to.

'But, to be corny about it, once you accept it and you learn about it and you realise you're part of a community and you realise you're in a position to do something and to make a difference and to help, well then it's just like, quit your b*****' and get on with it.'

Optimistic: Discussing his outlook on the illness, he said: 'Once you accept it and you learn about it, well then it's just like, quit your b*****' and get on with it' (pictured with his children Sam Michael Fox and Esme Annabelle Fox)

Never beaten: He said: 'I just knew I was going to have to make adjustments and I didn't know what I was gonna have to adjust to'

Despite his optimism and insistence on attending work events, sources have claimed the disease has worsened recently and that the star was seen struggling to get into a car outside a Hollywood restaurant back in March.

'It was heartbreaking,' an insider told Radar Online. 'Michael's bravery knows no bounds. But as the disease takes its toll on his body, even he is beginning to see that his battle is a losing one.

'Michael sees every day as a gift, as well as an opportunity to help other sufferers,' they continued.

The source went on: 'His Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has done so much and has raised millions of dollars, but a cure remains well out of reach.'

Pioneer: The father-of-four set up The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in 2000 after learning he had the illness in 1991