MICHAEL J. Fox says he could have done another season of “Spin City” — but decided that it’s more important to raise research money for the Parkinson’s disease that’s afflicting him.
“It wasn’t about taking a turn. I didn’t suddenly take a turn,” Fox says. “I’d love people to know that it wasn’t a major turn, it wasn’t like I hit a wall.
“I feel good, and I’m happy, and I have energy.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” Fox says. “It was really a choice…and I knew that I could certainly do another year but at the expense of some of the things I wanted to do.”
Fox, 38, announced on Tuesday that he’s leaving “Spin City” at the end of this season.
He gave an exclusive interview to “Access Hollywood” co-host and longtime friend Pat O’Brien, who lost his mother to Parkinson’s disease last summer.
O’Brien’s interview with Fox aired last night and continues tonight (7:30 p.m. on Ch.4).
“During the Christmas break I was away and I took some time off over the vacation…And I just started thinking,” Fox says. “The more I do [‘Spin City’] the more I have to postpone getting involved with Parkinson’s advocacy, and I can’t do both.
“It’s not a case where I’ve hit a wall, and I said, ‘I can’t do this anymore,'” Fox says. “Certainly it’s a progressive disease so that it changes…it doesn’t get better, you know.
“But at the same time it hasn’t debilitated me,” Fox says. “So I thought if that time comes, if it comes, when my ability to do things is severely impaired more than it is now, if I’m in the middle of a show or the middle of a season, then I have no choices.”
Fox reportedly wanted to announce his decision yesterday, but released his statement a day early on Tuesday when word leaked out after he told the show’s cast and crew that he was leaving.
“I think something happened on that Christmas vacation that Michael said to himself, ‘Michael J. Fox, you have a higher purpose,'” O’Brien told The Post. “This is an uncredibly unselfish and noble act.
“Michael was very introspective [during the interview],” O’Brien said. “His attitude is, these are the cards handed to him and he’s going to do the most he can with them.
“He’s not dramatic about it,” O’Brien said. “He’s pragmatic and realizes what’s been handed to him. He says, ‘Maybe this is why I’m here, to help others.’
“The timing is good,” O’Brien said. “Michael is not hampered by his health; he’s on a medication schedule, but it’s not like he can’t get to work.”
Fox’s co-star, Barry Bostwick — who plays pompous Mayor Randall Winston — told Bryant Gumbel on yesterday’s “Early Show” that the cast and crew have seen Fox when he’s in pain.
“There’s a finite amount of medicine he can take…and we see him when he’s in a lot of pain,” Bostwick said. “And I think that’s what saddens us so much.”
Fox tells O’Brien that he’s not sure how his exit will play itself out on “Spin City,” which has an uncertain future now that the actor is leaving.
“If [DreamWorks and ABC] could come up with a scenario creatively for the show to continue, I’m fine with that,” he says.
“If they feel they can’t [continue], I’m fine with that too.”